SKF has delivered a new bearing solution for environmental micro-hybrid cars. This new magnetic sensor bearing solution is part of Valeo’s StARS (Starter Alternator Reversible System), a micro-hybrid system that provides automakers with opportunities to significantly reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions in city driving without any radical changes in the engine architecture.

The system, featuring a stop-start function, cuts off the engine when the vehicle stops at a red light or slows down in congested traffic situations and restarts it quickly and silently when the driver releases the brake or engages a gear. It enables a reduction in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions of up to 25 percent in very dense urban traffic, typically during rush hour when there are many starts and stops. The StARS solution combines the alternator and starter functions.

StARS is being used in Citroen C2 and C3 Stop & Start models, the Smart Micro Hybrid Drive model and the Mercedes-Benz Class A and B Blue Efficiency models.