In 2007, European BMWs will be equipped with a stop-start feature that turns off the gasoline or diesel engine when the car comes to a stop. The engine restarts immediately when the driver lifts his or her foot off the brake pedal… A new alternator management system BMW calls Brake Energy Recuperation… keeps the battery charged at 80 percent to reduce the load, or drag, that the alternator places on the engine while the vehicle is cruising. When the driver applies the brakes, a sensor commands the alternator to produce a short blast of electricity to bring the battery up to a 90 percent charge. When the driver accelerates, the alternator is allowed to spin freely so no drag is placed on the engine. BMW will begin installing the Brake Energy Recuperation systems in 2007 on European market vehicles… “BER, together with the stop-start system, it’s about an 8 percent fuel economy improvement, depending on the driving cycle,” Borgmann said. “That’s about half the value of a hybrid system with very simple systems. – AutoWeek
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on Friday, April 14th, 2006 at 11:53 am and is filed under BMW, hybrids, technical.