Two days ago, a group of FCA US gained a patent on their fuel-saving alternator system.
Some have wondered, while struggling for every last erg of power from their engine, if there was a way to automatically cut power-sucking devices just for those few seconds. Chrysler had already set up a clever system to cut the air conditioner compressor clutch under full acceleration, but the alternator was still unpredictable, sometimes demanding power, sometimes coasting.
This is what happens when you don’t have a stock alternator photo
The new Chrysler system, which is already in production, uses computer models to decide when to charge the alternator based on modeled fuel consumption and alternator energy output and battery charge. As a result, new Chrysler vehicles can charge when you coast or brake, and not when you accelerate.
The patent was credit to David Pedro, Arab Alsharif, Joydip Saha, Travis Hamilton, Nikhil Patil, Geoffrey Giese, Basil Khaja, Ganapathy Machamada Somaiah, Joseph Adams, and Paul Miligan, all listed as living in Michigan—other than David R. Pedro, an Ontario resident.
The computer controlled charging system is one in a line of many attempts to cut parasitic losses without greatly increasing cost.
David Zatz started what was to become the world’s biggest, most comprehensive Mopar site in 1994 as he pursued a career in organizational research and change. After a chemo-induced break, during which he wrote car books covering Vipers, minivans, and Jeeps, he returned with Patrick Rall to create StellPower.com for daily news, and to set up MoTales for mo’ tales.
David Zatz has around 30 years of experience in covering Chrysler/Mopar news and history, and most recently wrote Century of Chrysler, a 100-year retrospective on the Chrysler marque.
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