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Starter-Alternator Designed by Valeo and PSA Peugeot Citroën Wins 2004 "Engineers of the Year Award"

Paris (ots/PRNewswire)

Valeo and PSA Peugeot Citroën yesterday
received the first "Engineers of the Year Award" in the sustainable
development category. "We are honored to receive this award presented
by 'Usine Nouvelle', 'Industries et Technologies' and the National
Council of French Engineers and Scientists (CNSIF). This trophy not
only recognizes the team that designed and developed a new automotive
function; it also encourages all engineers in the Group to continue
developing new systems that combine high performance with respect for
the environment," said Thierry Morin, Valeo Chairman & CEO.
"What a wonderful job engineers have! They design and develop the
technologies and objects of the future, serving as the link between
science and the public," declared Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, Nobel
prize-winning physicist and prestigious co-sponsor of the event,
along with around 30 major company directors (Alcatel, Arcelor,
Areva, Danone, EADS, France Telecom, L'Oréal, Michelin, Total, etc.).
In October 1998, PSA Peugeot Citroën's Automotive Research and
Innovation Department started working on the application of various
environmentally friendly powertrain technologies to be marketed
around 2008. Research showed that switching motors to standby mode
when the vehicle is at a standstill is a quick, effective and
competitive solution for reducing CO2 emissions. However, previous
experiments had been inconclusive due to three major difficulties:
engine re-start time, starter noise and insufficient reliability.
At the same time, Valeo, who already supplied alternators and
starters to the PSA Peugeot Citroën Group, presented an innovative
system on which it had been working since 1997: the belt-driven
reversible starter-alternator. Since this system uses the alternator
to start the engine, there is no need for a conventional starter
motor.
A new approach to automaker/supplier relations
The idea therefore arose to create a partnership to develop a
major automotive innovation in terms of environmental protection:
Stop & Start (the PSA Peugeot Citroën name) or StARS (the Valeo
name). The mission of the project teams, comprising a total of 60
people, was to optimize and implement technical solutions that would
enable this new function to be applied across all PSA Peugeot Citroën
Group platforms.
Valeo took responsibility for designing the electrical machine and
the power and control electronics, areas in which it has considerable
industrial experience and engineering expertise.
PSA Peugeot Citroën focused on vehicle integration, defining the
control strategies of the Stop & Start function, the human-machine
interfaces and finding a belt-driven solution to link the alternator
and the crankshaft.
The specifications were extremely rigorous:
  • noise- and vibration-free starting and stopping of the engine,
  • instant engine re-start at the slightest signal from the driver,
  • optimized reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions,
  • automated control of the Stop & Start function, guaranteeing driver-friendly operation.
The project's leitmotiv was the use of simple, cost-effective
solutions which are easily integrated into vehicles and quickly
adapted for mass production.
A useful and environmentally friendly automotive function
The Stop & Start function turns the engine off automatically when
the vehicle comes to a standstill (red lights, temporary halts,
traffic jams, etc.) and restarts the engine instantly and silently as
soon as the driver releases the brake pedal or accelerates. Drivers
are not required to alter their usual driving habits. Depending on
the vehicle and the engine, the Stop & Start system provides fuel
savings of around 10% for city driving and 6% in standard combined
cycles.
Tests have demonstrated that in built-up areas, vehicles are
stationary for 35% of driving time on average. In addition to the
improved fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions provided by
automatic engine cut-off, drivers and the environment alike benefit
from total silence during the frequent periods when vehicles are at a
standstill.
The StARS starter-alternator from Valeo: a brand new way of
functioning
Using the 12V power network with a conventional battery, a special
electronic unit has been added to allow the alternator to take over
the functions of the starter motor.
In inverter mode, Valeo's reversible starter-alternator transforms
12V direct current from the battery into three-phase current to
supply the alternator, which is effectively used as a starter motor.
In rectifier mode, Valeo's reversible starter-alternator generates
the electricity required for the vehicle. It also offers a
significant increase in efficiency (up to 15%), intelligent control
of the drain current and high outputs of up to 180 amps. These three
Valeo-developed solutions lead to additional savings in fuel
consumption and optimized battery recharging on PSA Peugeot Citroën
vehicles.
The reversible starter-alternator's electronic management module
communicates with all other body controllers in the vehicle with no
modifications necessary; this facilitates the deployment of the
function for several engine and vehicle applications.
The engine starts silently thanks to the accessory belt, a new
function enabled by a special material and hydraulic damping of the
tensioner.
The fuel injection strategies (for both gasoline and diesel
engines) developed for Stop & Start ensure that restart is
instantaneous (400 milliseconds, i.e. twice as fast as a conventional
starter motor) and pollution free (thanks to an accelerated
temperature rise in the pollution control devices: catalytic
converters, particle filters, etc.).
Zero noise, zero consumption and zero pollution at standstill
The Stop & Start system is a first step in the hybridization of
vehicles for the general public.
The concepts developed and retained, each of them innovative in
their area (55 patents filed for this project) are the result of the
ongoing drive to find simple and reliable solutions which can be
manufactured in the short term, while maintaining the current
automotive standards in terms of mounting (using the fixings of a
conventional alternator), operation (air-cooled and belt-driven) and
electricity (conventional 12V network).
An innovation that combines driving pleasure and respect for
the environment
The Citroën C3 Stop & Start, the world's first vehicle to be
equipped with the StARS system, available since last month, will be
followed by other Peugeot and Citroën models. Valeo has also
announced developments with other automakers (Ford, Hyundai, etc.).
This system will be used for larger engines (gasoline and diesel) in
the short term, but will soon become more compact and offer new
functions leading to further fuel savings and even lower emissions.
The pro-environmental stance adopted by Valeo and PSA Peugeot
Citroën satisfies a key expectation of "responsible drivers" who will
appreciate the new function not only for its silence, ease of use and
fuel economy, but also for its drastic reduction of noise and
atmospheric pollution in built-up areas. This innovation contributes
to improving both cabin comfort and the general quality of life in
urban areas; in other words it provides harmony between the car and
the city.
Valeo is an independent industrial Group fully focused on the
design, production and sale of components, integrated systems and
modules for cars and trucks. Valeo ranks among the world's top
automotive suppliers. The Group has 130 plants, 65 R&D centers, 9
distribution centers and employs 70,200 people in 26 countries
worldwide.

Contact:

Press contacts: Alexandre Telinge, +33-(0)1-40-55-20-74; Sophie
Porte, +33-(0)1-40-55-37-68

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