A study conducted by Pike Research shows that in 2011, the use of this system will expand to a total of 3 million cars. By 2020, the number of vehicles using the start-stop is estimated to reach more than 100 times that, or 37.3 million units per year, representing one-third of all light-duty vehicle sales.
As usual, the adoption of this micro-hybrid system will vary from one market to another. Europe, currently caught in a dance meant to create a much greener automotive environment, is already proving to be most anxious to adopt the technology. More than two dozen stop-start vehicle models were available there as of early 2011, says Pike.
The US, on the other hand, is proving to be more reluctant to the idea of start-stop, mostly because the attention of the local car makers is turned towards other types of hybrid systems.
Worldwide, for each hybrid vehicle sold, the automakers will sell 3.5 start-stop vehicles. By 2017, for every hybrid sold, 16 start-stop cars will take to the road.
“Stop-start vehicles strike an attractive balance between cost and fuel efficiency improvement,” said senior analyst John Gartner. “Stop-start technology is offered both as standard on some vehicles and as an optional package, which may be branded under a ‘blue’ or ‘eco’ label by auto manufacturers.”
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