Gliding (vehicle)

Gliding is an energy-efficient driving mode achieved by turning off the internal combustion engine while the vehicle is still moving in order to save fuel.

The functionality, being an integral concept of hybrid electric vehicles, is performed automatically by the engine controller.

For vehicles with a conventional internal combustion engine, coasting can be performed manually; gliding requires having a gear box.

An extra button to stop the engine was shown in 1979 on International Motor Show Germany,[3] but never became a feature in mass production of any vehicle.

[5][6][7] Pushing the clutch pedal disengages the engine from the powertrain like wheels, drive shafts and gearbox.

Gliding vehicles equipped with torque converter-based automatic transmissions causes damage due lack of lubrication.

[8] Unsynchronized transmissions require double clutching and can not get the gear in at differing vehicle and engine speeds.

A look on a dashboard at driving speed of 50 km/h. Upper picture shows gliding, where the combustion engine is turned off. Picture below shows coasting where the engine is idling due to a disengaged clutch or the transmission being in neutral.