The new Chevrolet Cruze is one of the few non-hybrid vehicles to be accepted into the “40 mpg” club and it does so via a couple of neat tricks. One is its computer controlled fuel pump that increases fuel economy two percent over a standard fuel system. The ECU of the Cruze has the ability to regulate the amount of pressure in the fuel lines by increasing or decreasing the speed at which the fuel pump operates. The electrically controlled system can lower the voltage to the pump, therefore resulting in less excess fuel being delivered to the engine.
This all wonderful news and shows that overly complicated hybrid systems are not needed in order to achieve high fuel mileage. With a EPA highway rating of 42 mpg, the Chevrolet Cruze is without a doubt a gas saver that is inexpensive to operate. This system does make us wonder though; could it create mechanical problems down the road? Probably not but that isn’t stopping the critic in us from asking the hard questions.
Read the full press release below and make sure to tell us what you think on the comment page.
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DETROIT – With gasoline topping $4 a gallon, there are many ways to conserve fuel and save money. The Chevrolet Cruze relies on microprocessors in the brain of the compact car’s fuel system to help.
The Electronic Returnless Fuel System on the Cruze increases fuel economy by 2 percent compared to vehicles with a standard fuel system, said Terry Wilton, General Motors’ senior manager for fuel system components.
The Cruze Eco model with a manual transmission offers an estimated 42 miles per gallon on the highway, best among all compacts.
“We’ve combined a lot of technologies on the Cruze to offer customers hybrid-like fuel economy without the cost of the hybrid system,” Wilton said.
The microprocessor behind the Electronic Returnless Fuel System electronically manages the delivery of fuel from the fuel tank to the engine. It is controlled by the brain of the Cruze’s fuel system – the fuel system/chassis control module. The control module can raise or lower the pressure in the fuel line by speeding up or slowing down the fuel pump. This allows the system to make more efficient decisions on the amount of fuel provided to the engine compared to vehicles with a standard fuel system whose fuel pump runs at full speed all the time.
The system reduces voltage to a point where the pump doesn’t deliver excess fuel. The lower fuel pump speed results in less power consumption, which reduces the electrical load on the alternator. That reduces the strain on the engine, resulting in increased fuel economy.
“To a customer, the Electronic Returnless Fuel System technology is seamless,” said Wilton. “The driver does not notice the changes to fuel pump speed because engine fueling requirements vary during different vehicle driving conditions.”
About Chevrolet – Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 140 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly to gas-free” solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com
