Mazda Smart Idle Stop System (SISS) Arrives In 2009

In hybrids, a portion of fuel savings is derived by automatically turning off the engine while the vehicle is stopped and its engagement again well after the batteries have brought the vehicle up to speed.  In Europe this concept is extended even further to regular cars as well.  However, in those cars, automatic start-stop systems typically use the conventional starter motor to re-start the engines after a stop.  Depending on the driving conditions, this could be quite a strain on the car’s starter.  Now Mazda has devised a new system that they claim will provide quicker, more consistent re-starts.

SISS Diagram

Mazda has developed an idling stop system, called the Smart Idle Stop System (SISS), which improves fuel economy by about ten percent in urban areas where vehicles frequently stop at traffic lights or in heavy traffic during operation.  Idling stop systems save fuel by shutting down the engine automatically when the car is stationary, and restarts it when the driver resumes driving. The Mazda system relies on direct injection to function.  When the engine is stopped, sensors are used to stop the engine with the pistons in a precise location. This will allow one of the cylinders to have a specific amount of air in the combustion chamber. When the time comes to re-start, fuel is injected directly into the cylinder and ignited. The expansion of the burning fuel is used to get the engine turning to re-start the engine. This all happens in a split second, Mazda claims the engine can re-start in 350 milliseconds, about half the time of a conventional starter. The re-starts are rotated to different cylinders so that the same cylinder isn’t used every time.  Mazda claims a 10 percent reduction in fuel consumption during testing in Japan.  It would seem logical that if this sort of technology could be adapted by other automakers it might have a huge impact on gas consumption in America.  Much of which is wasted with drivers negotiating congested roadways and urban centers.  At the very least, Mazda parent company Ford should be able to integrate this into a wider variety of vehicles. Those, like me that are interested in this technology can look towards Mazda plans to introduce this technology to the marketplace in 2009.

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Ener1 Predicts 50% Drop in Lithium-Ion Battery Costs

Battery manufacturer Ener1 has recently announced that they’ll be seeing a 50% drop in the price of lithium ion batteries as production increases. Statements indicate that the majority of the price decrease will come from scaling up manufacturing, and that it won’t happen until their dealing in hundreds of thousands of units. That means it’s a very optimistic prediction, to say the least.

Ener1 has also announced that they’re expecting two new development deals this year. They already provide the lithium ion batteries for Think’s City Car in Europe. But the CEO is promising that these deals will be with much larger car companies. And even though GM and Toyota and Mitsubishi already have their providers lined up, there are still quite a few car companies without a firm supplier of lithium-ion batteries.

Since the lithium-ion batteries are a significant part of the cost in hybrid cars, a 50% decline in price would mean a big drop in hybrid car cost.

Some automotive futurists have predicted that within ten years, every new car on the road will have a lithium ion battery pack. I find that a difficult prediction to make, considering the inherent dangers in lithuin ion technology and the advancements already being made with lithum-polymer and silver-zinc batteries and any unseen technologies that may arise. Still, it’s be good news if it happens.

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Hyundai i10

Hyundai i10: Not Ready for the U.S.

I’m not sure if news of the Hyundai i10 not coming to the U.S. will be met with any outrage by potential buyers.  Without significant re-engineering the i10 does not meet certain standards, mostly regarding safety, to be sold in the U.S.  But as lackluster as it may appear to look at, the i10 has gained quite a lot of positive comments since its release.

i10 poses for pictures

Hyundai has so much confidence in the Indian-made i10, that they predict sales to double in the coming year.  Despite the fact that it is extremely small (slightly less than 8 ft long) in comparison to its main competition it is considered roomy and is configured with 5 doors and 5 seats.  (I said that with a straight face) The i10 is or will be sold with several different powerplants including a three-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine that produces 75 horsepower.  A manual version of the 1.1-litre gas engine averages 60 mpg.

Hyundai i10 Interior

The higher-end (again with a straight face) Hyundai i10 with the “style” package of options includes air conditioning, sunroof, power mirrors, fog lights and alloy wheels.  All Hyundai i10’s have power steering, remote control, four airbags and a CD player.  Although it claims seating for five, like anything of this size and in this class, the i10 is suited for quick trips to the store or driving in a city and not  for long road trips.  The thrifty engine and small dimensions would definitely be too much for any great lengths of time on a highway.

Unfortunately, or fortunately if you hate it, even with upgrades to emissions and safety, because the dollar is so weak right now, the super-affordable i10 is cheap but not cheap enough to sell here in the U.S.  The British version would cost $11000 if it were sold here right now.  Perhaps that’s a good thing.  The i10 is not especially exceptional in style or performance, which you would have to be to sell here.  Plus small cars that are already available, like the U.S.-made Aveo aren’t exactly flying out of showrooms.  Until there is a consistent market demanding super-compacts automakers will not bother trying to introduce these types of new cars here.

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