This is priceless:
Mazda's US head of product development is pointing the finger at the EPA as the reason it doesn't offer automatic engine start/stop technology in its non-hybrids in North America despite it being a proven, low-tech fuel saver.
Many EcoModder members already know that
manually shutting down your engine whenever stopped for more than a few seconds is worth significant fuel savings. Mazda estimates automated start/stop is worth a 7-9% fuel economy boost in sub/urban driving.
The start/stop feature is much more common in Europe & Japan even on plain Jane non-hybrid models. So why doesn't the US market have it?
According to Mazda's Robert Davis...
Quote:
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the EPA's city-mode test cycle includes only one complete stop. Because the car stops only once, the Stop/Start feature is only active for a few moments and as a result, it only improves fuel-economy on the test cycle by 0.1 to 0.2 mpg, rather than the nearly double-digit percentage gains that can be had in normal city driving when the engine would spend more time stopped.
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Apparently several auto makers are lobbying the EPA to change test procedures to reward the inclusion of start/stop technology.
Am I misreading this, or are the automakers saying, "if it doesn't help our CAFE numbers, screw energy efficiency and the customer!"
EPA is apparently reconsidering city test numbers for this reason, to give stop/start equipped vehicles a better city rating.
Source:
Motor Trend