2014/2015 Chevrolet Malibu Buyers Adopt Start / Stop Technology
Promoting what it sees as the ultimate win-win solution, Chevrolet announced that 97% of people who bought a 2014 or 2015 Malibu have opted for the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with the technology of fuel efficient start / stop. As part of its 2014 redesign, Malibu became the first vehicle in the midsize segment to include this feature as standard equipment on its base engine. Start / Stop turns the engine off when the vehicle comes to a complete stop, then automatically restarts it when the driver releases the brake pedal. Coupled with the new 2.5-liter valve lift control system and a 6-speed automatic transmission, the setup contributed to a 14% gain in the City of Malibu’s new EPA rating, which went from 22 at 25 mpg. One of the smoothest start / stop systems on the market, Chevy also adapted this economy-enhancing tweak to the 2.5-liter Ecotec engine. it is standard in the 2015 Chevrolet Impala. There, it increases the city’s EPA mpg on this full-size 4-door by five percent, to 22 mpg.
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Beyond savings at the pump, starting / stopping offers a potentially painless way to reduce the amount of fuel used by idling vehicles in traffic while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Chevrolet cited a recent survey from the Hinkle Charitable Foundation indicating that approximately 3.8 million gallons of gasoline are wasted each day while cars are stationary. This returnless combustion produces around 40,000 tonnes of CO2 over a 24-hour period, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of 7,112 vehicles.
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Other automakers should follow Chevy’s lead when it comes to embracing start / stop technology across a wide range to help meet the more stringent 54.5 fuel economy regulations. mpg CAFE which are expected to come into effect for 2017. A recent study by Navigant Research found that the installation of these systems is expected to increase from 8.8 million vehicles worldwide in 2013 to 55.4 million in 2020.
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