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"Intelligent" air-conditioning control could save up to 9 per cent of fuel in an urban driving cycle, according to research carried out under a UK project.

The Sentience project, which is looking into optimising the integration of electronic systems, mobile telecoms and advanced mapping technology, has tested systems that integrate the air-conditioning controls with a hybrid powertrain stop-start function.

In urban traffic with frequent stop-starts, linking a new enhanced air-conditioning control (EAC) strategy to work in conjunction with the powertrain allows the system to anticipate stops when the engine is switched off and avoid restarting it merely to run the air-con.

Tom Robinson, Sentience project manager at engineering group Ricardo, said: "EAC is highly applicable to a wide range of hybrid vehicle types from simple stop-start systems to plug-in hybrids, and Ricardo will seek to exploit this technology actively in its future client programmes."

The system tested on a research vehicle based on a Ford Escape Hybrid achieved a fuel saving on 9 per cent on an urban cycle in a "UK summer". Ricardo is patenting the technology.

Sentience is a UK research programme led by Ricardo with input from Jaguar-Land Rover, TRL, Ordnance Survey and Orange Business Systems.

Earlier this year, the Sentience team inveiled an enhanced acceleration/deceleration strategy in which an adaptive cruise control system linked to the powertrain controls the vehicle to meet speed limits, taking account of features such as bends and speed bumps, as well as roundabouts and traffic lights.