GM May Implement Fuel Economy Improving Technology That Doesn’t Sacrifice Performance

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New fuel economy technology from Silicon Valley-based startup Tula Technology may be used in future General Motors Co. gasoline engine-powered vehicles, GM Ventures announced today.

“This technology holds the potential to improve fuel economy on select GM vehicles without degrading power capability when it’s required,” says Jon Lauckner, president of GM Ventures, which invested in Tula in 2012. “This joint effort combines software expertise from Silicon Valley with powertrain expertise from General Motors.”

Lauckner says Tula’s technology integrates advanced digital signal processing with powertrain controls to create a software-based approach to variable displacement engines.

He says the application of such technology can improve fuel efficiency in a multi-cylinder engine by as much as 15 percent when compared to a vehicle equipped with an engine that does not have cylinder deactivation, according to independent testing commissioned by Tula.

“We’ve worked closely with GM during this exciting stage of DSF development, and they’ve provided essential financial support while allowing us to run our business with full autonomy,” says R. Scott Bailey, president and CEO of Tula Technology. “Our goal is the same as GM; we both innovate to make the lives of people better.”

Co-investors in Tula with GM Ventures include Sequoia Capital, Sigma Partners, and Khosla Ventures.