It’s well known that Ford’s EcoBoost technology has really helped petrol engines come on leaps and bounds when it comes to fuel efficiency. Smaller engines are generally more efficient anyway, but mate them to high compression rates and a low burn combustion cycle and you have wallet friendly cars. Is it possible to make this engine even more efficient? Well Ford is certainly looking in to it with cylinder deactivation technology.
On-road tests using a working prototype showed fuel efficiency improvements of up to six per cent after engineers conducted an experimental investigation into cylinder deactivation. To enable cylinder deactivation to take place at a wider range of engine loads and speeds they developed a new dual mass flywheel which also minimised noise, vibration and harshness levels.
These findings were presented at the world renowned Vienna Engine Symposium by Andreas Schamel, Ford director, Global Powertrain, Research & Advanced Engineering. Cylinder deactivation is among a number of fuel efficiency solutions Ford is investigating for the 1.0-litre EcoBoost, at the European Research and Innovation Centre in Aachen, Germany.
“Even for an aggressively downsized engine such as the 1.0-litre EcoBoost, a significant improvement in vehicle fuel economy could be found by exploiting cylinder deactivation,” Schamel said. “The highest priority in the development of new combustion engines for automotive applications is the ongoing reduction of fuel consumption.”
Ford is of course looking at other opportunities to continue development in this vital area of research. We will report on them as the news breaks. Do you own a Ford with an EcoBoost engine? How do you find it? Comments as always welcome in the section below.
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