Bosch targets cylinder deactivation for 4-bangers - Automotive News
Cylinder deactivation has proved to be a fuel-efficient technology for V-6 and V-8 engines, but what about for smaller four-cylinder or even three-cylinder powerplants. A senior executive at Robert Bosch GmbH said the German supplier has developed an engine management system that would enable cylinder deactivation for small engines -- offering an opportunity for better fuel economy. "It is something that we are working on," said Heiko Weller, the North American vice president for engineering gasoline systems for Robert Bosch. Deactivation systems for V-6 and V-8 engines typically work by shutting down half of an engine's cylinders when the vehicle is cruising at a steady speed. An inline three- or four-cylinder engine would be a bit trickier, Weller said. To avoid pumping losses, one would have to shut down one or two cylinders completely. If the motorist decides to overtake a vehicle on the highway, the engine would reactivate the idle cylinders. The technology is doable, though, so it's up to automakers to decide when to use it. Weller predicted that cylinder deactivation could improve fuel economy by roughly 4 to 5 percent. Robert Bosch GmbH ranks No. 1 on the Automotive News list of the top 100 global original-equipment automotive parts suppliers, with parts sales to automakers worldwide of an estimated $44. 24 billion in 2014. Starts and stops. Source: www.autonews.com
