Title: Cold start of passenger cars

Authors: N.A. Kyriakis, M. Andre

Addresses: Laboratory of Applied Thermodynamics, University of Thessaloniki, GR-54006 Thessaloniki, Greece. Laboratory of Energie and Environment, Institut National de Recherche Transports et Securite, INRETS, Case 24, 69675, Bron Cedex, France

Abstract: Data on actual vehicle usage and operating conditions during normal driving have been collected with private cars equipped with on-board data acquisition systems. These data concern 77 vehicles, 10400 trips and 89,000 kilometres and they are used to analyse the cold and transient operation. The paper focuses on the thermal conditions at start and during operation, in relation to usage and driving conditions. Trip lengths and parking duration are described. The engine start temperature is analysed as a function of ambient temperature and parking duration. Distances travelled and driving duration are determined for both cold and warm conditions. The corresponding traffic characteristics are compared in terms of speed and stop rates.

Keywords: cold start; driving conditions; engine operating conditions; fuel consumption; vehicle usage.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1998.001826

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1998 Vol.20 No.1/2/3/4, pp.137-146

Published online: 18 Aug 2003 *

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