U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Vehicle Technologies Office

Fact #725: April 30, 2012
Cylinder Deactivation is More Prevalent in Light Trucks than Cars

Cylinder deactivation is a fuel-saving technology that allows a vehicle to shut down some of its cylinders when extra power is not needed like when cruising down the highway at a constant speed. The cylinders can be activated under heavy load situations like towing or acceleration where more power is required. This technology is particularly well suited to light trucks where the power requirements for hauling, towing and cruising vary greatly. In model year 2011, 38% of pickup trucks and 17% of vans and SUVs had engines with cylinder deactivation while just 3% of cars took advantage of the technology.

Cylinder Deactivation by Vehicle Type, Model Year 2011Graphic showing cylinder deactivation by vehicle type (car, van, truck SUV, pickup, and all) for the model year 2011. For more detailed information, see supporting information below.

Supporting Information

Model Year 2011 Cylinder Deactivation by Vehicle Type
Vehicle Type Cylinder
Deactivation
Car 3%
Van 17%
Truck SUV 17%
Pickup 38%
All 11%

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 Through 2011 EPA-420-R-12-001, March 2012.

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