More than half the new cars built worldwide by 2016 will have start-stop technology, three times as many as today, according to Johnson Controls.
In Europe that number will be as high as 70% as manufacturers seek better fuel efficiency.
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JCI estimates that start-stop systems can result in savings of between 5 and 12% of fuel.
The company told an analysts’ meeting recently that, globally, start-stop will be used in 52-55% of new vehicles built in 2016, up from 8% in 2010. That means nearly 25m vehicles will be built with the advanced batteries allowing start-stop in 2016, up from 7m in 2011.
JCI’s power solutions president, Alex Molinaroli, said overall start-stop battery sales will be 35m within five years, including batteries not put into new vehicles.
The expansion of start-stop technology is driving demand for newer batteries, called absorbed glass mat (AGM).
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By GlobalData“In this competition, start-stop has gained share because consumers perceive real value from the application and are moving it forward up the adoption curve,” Kim Metcalf-Kupres, vice president of global sales, marketing and strategy, told analysts.
The company is spending $138.5 million to convert an Ohio battery plant to an absorbent glass mat factory, its first such US plant. Production of the start-stop batteries will begin in spring 2012.
Johnson Controls’ investment will add 6m in AGM battery capacity to the company’s North American AGM footprint by 2013. The expansion will create 50 new jobs and retain 400 existing jobs in the community.
The widespread adoption of start-stop system could have an impact on growth of EVs too, the company said, because consumers can use a fuel-saving alternative without having to contend with a different infrastructure.
Johnson Controls says it is currently the leading supplier of Start-Stop batteries in Europe through its Varta brand. In 2010 the company supplied 3m Varta Start-Stop batteries in Europe, and is adding capacity there to reach 11.2m batteries by 2015.
“In addition to Start-Stop, our Original Equipment customers are also turning to our AGM technology to support many of their other new high efficiency vehicles that place similar aggressive demands on the battery. Our superior AGM technology is proven in Europe, where we’ve enjoyed working with our customers to help them meet strict regulations on CO2 emissions,” said Jorge Guillen, vice president, Start-Stop, for Johnson Controls Power Solutions.
“Our Toledo facility will be very important in helping to establish the same leadership here in the United States.”
