A California startup that GM Ventures invested in about two years ago has developed a new way to squeeze a few more miles from each gallon of gas.
Tula Technology, with operations in San Jose and Plymouth, specializes in something called "advanced digital signal processing," which enhances automakers' ability to deactivate cylinders in larger engines when they are not needed in order to boost fuel economy.
Examples include General Motor's Active Fuel Management and Chrysler's Multi-Displacement System, both of which provide one fixed level of deactivation.
Tula's Dynamic Skip Fire (DSF) system, rather than cutting a set number of cylinders in certain types of terrain or traffic conditions, can continuously vary the combination of cylinders to offer increased fuel savings over a wider operating range than the current production systems.