Renault will bring start-stop to all European models by 2010

Considering all of the work that Renault is doing with fuel cells and pure electric vehicles, it can be slightly deflating to remember that there are still a lot of gas-using vehicles to be sold before those alternatives are available. The good news, out today from Automotive News Europe (subs req'd), is that the company is now saying they will bring the micro hybrid system called start-stop to every model sold in Europe by 2010. Start-stop technology shuts down the motor down when the vehicle is not moving, and then instantly turns it back on when needed. The company is currently working on prototypes and believes CO₂ emissions could be recuded by 15 percent to 20 percent in city driving and wants to provide the technology at a much cheaper price point than is currently availalbe.

[Source: Automotive News Europe (subs req'd)]