Reducing CO2 Emissions with SKF StopGo
The number of vehicles on the road and congestion has steadily increased over the last decades and is set to carry on increasingly at a regular rate despite worries about environmental impacts and carbon dioxide emissions. Amongst these vehicles, motorcycles and other two wheelers are set to rise to 75 million units by 2015 meaning an increase in harmful carbon emissions at a time where effort needs to be made to reduce negative environmental impact. In order to help combat the problem of motorcycle carbon footprint and assist in meeting government and international environmental targets, SKF have announced their new StopGo SKF bearing system. This article will give a brief overview of the system and explore the potential positive impact it could have.
The System
The SKF StopGo is a three-in-one integrated sensor-bearing system solution that performs a bearing function, speed sensing and stop-start function. The system is an “intelligent” system which can adapt to different traffic conditions in order to optimize fuel economy and avoid inconvenience for the driver. The electronics of the system are wired so that when the vehicle stops, the electronics stop the engine after a certain amount of time depending on the particular context. If the motorcycle is in neutral the engine will stop after six seconds, and if it is in gear this rises to ten seconds. If the cycle stops and starts frequently, for example in heavy traffic, the system will delay engine switch off up to 15 seconds or once 30 metres has been travelled since the last stop.
The StopGo system can be retrofitted to current two wheelers, or customised to fit new models. It is fitted into the hub of the front wheel, like a standard SKF wheel bearing, and is connected by a plug-and-play connector to a mating connector which communicates with the engine’s stop and start electronics.
The Advantages
In order to test the real-life impact the StopGo system would have, SKF ran a year long trial in India, monitoring motorcycles of 125-150cc as they drove through busy urban traffic. Results indicated that CO2 emissions are reduced by 5g per kilometre when using this system. An annual mileage of 7825km would yield a CO2 reduction of 36kg per year. If a million motorcycles were equipped with the system 36,000 tonnes of CO2 would be removed from the atmosphere per year.
As well as improving fuel efficiency and emissions, the StopGo also significantly reduces the weight of the motorcycle. Other systems which separate the three components of the system into individual units are much heavier; the StopGo saves up to 60% of the total weight.
Increases in congestion and vehicles throughout the world along with growing concern about our environmental responsibilities call for clever engineering solutions which are easy to fit and have significant and positive results. The StopGo by SKF is just one example of new solutions being manufactured all the time in order to combat the problem of carbon emissions.