(12/30/2010, NYTimes) Most American drivers have yet to hear about so-called microhybrids, but they can expect a rapid learning curve.
The powertrain solution is common in Europe, where stringent fuel economy and tailpipe emissions laws have long been the norm. Now the first microhybrids are coming to North America.
The microhybrid system centers on start-stop technology, which turns off engines at traffic stops. This has long been a feature of full-hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius, but as a relatively inexpensive addition to purely internal combustion cars, it can improve fuel economy by 10 percent or more.
...
According to Jacob Grose, a Lux Research analyst, adding start-stop technology to a car costs an automaker from $300 to $1,500.
...
Some start-stop solutions employ a two-pronged approach to energy storage and deployment, combining batteries with ultracapacitors. Known in the industry as ultracaps, these devices can store and discharge electricity quickly, perform well under extreme temperatures and, crucially, can reduce battery size.
...
Adding ultracaps also allows automakers to save money by making batteries as much as 30 percent smaller,