Looks like the AAA is trying to educate motorists about the benefits of stop/start.
Their study also busts the misconception that stop/start isn't on American cars because the systems don't register enough of a beneift in EPA testing.
Quote:
AAA put three automatic stop-start vehicles through the Environmental Protection Agency’s “urban” cycle, which simulates a commuting trip covering 11.04 miles at an average speed of 21.2 miles-per-hour. The simulation is part urban driving – including frequent stops – and part highway driving. This test was selected to ensure that the stop-start systems had an opportunity to work as they would on a normal commute.
- A 2013 Ford Fusion,
- a 2014 Mercedes Benz CLS550
- and a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu were tested.
The AAA research was conducted with the Auto Club of Southern California’s Automotive Research Center.
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Source:
AAA
They estimate
annual fuel savings of $179 for consumers, based on 15,000 miles a year in a vehicle that averages 20 mpg with fuel prices at $3.65 per gallon.
Notably, they also point out the savings "do not include other factors relative to ownership costs of vehicles equipped with automatic stop-start systems, such as potentially higher costs to replace the upgraded battery or starter typically used in these vehicles."