According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s latest ‘Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends’ report, cylinder deactivation is an increasingly popular way to net greater efficiency from a V-6 or V-8 engine. However, the technology is largely bypassing passenger cars.
Cylinder deactivation was found in 38 percent of all pickups, 17 percent of vans, and 17 percent of truck-based SUVs in the 2011 model year. By comparison, only 3 percent of the passenger cars on the market benefitted from it.
Fuel-saving cylinder deactivation technology enables an engine to shut down half of its cylinders under certain low-demand driving conditions. It provides a no-sacrifices way to have V-8 or V-6 power at the ready for quick acceleration while eking greater efficiency from an engine when additional power isn't required.
Known variably by such names as displacement on demand, multi-displacement, and variable cylinder management, these cylinder deactivation systems work seamlessly and provide about 8 to 20 percent better fuel efficiency, depending on application. It's expected that the technology will ultimately find greater use in vehicle models as automakers strive to meet increasingly greater fuel efficiency targets.