Mexican Media Brands
GM Touts “Skip Fire” Cylinder Deactivation
General Motor Co. says piston engines could hike their fuel economy 15% with a new continuously variable cylinder deactivation system being developed by a Silicon Valley startup funded in part by GM Ventures.
#economics
Share
General Motor Co. says piston engines could hike their fuel economy 15% with a new continuously variable cylinder deactivation system being developed by a Silicon Valley startup funded in part by GM Ventures.
Conventional cylinder deactivation systems conserve fuel by switching off two or more cylinders under low-load conditions. Until now, such systems have been able to move only between fixed firing patterns.
But Tula Technology Inc.'s Dynamic Skip Fire system makes continuous decisions about how many and which cylinders should fire to maintain smooth operation and deliver only the amount of torque required at the moment.
GM says the software-based DSF technology taps the capabilities of digital signal processing and advanced powertrain controls. Tests to date indicate the system could deliver 15% fuel efficiency boosts in 4-, 6- and 8-cylinder engines compared with standard forms of the same powerplants.
Tula's development work combines the company's software knowhow with GM's expertise in powertrain operations. The company's other investors include Khosla Ventures, Sequoia Capital and Sigma Partners.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Enterprise Edges into Self-Driving Car Market
U.S. rental car giant Enterprise Holdings Inc. is the latest company to venture into the world of self-driving vehicles.
-
On Headlights, Tesla's Autopilot, VW's Electric Activities and More
Seeing better when driving at night, understanding the limits of “Autopilot,” Volkswagen’s electric activities, and more.
-
Tariffs on Autos: “No One Wins”
While talk of tariffs may make the president sound tough and which gives the talking heads on cable something to talk about, the impact of the potential 25 percent tariffs on vehicles imported to the U.S. could have some fairly significant consequences.