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Turning an engine off every time you stop at a red light can save a lot of gas, and Ford has figured out how to start an engine without a starter.
Ford is going to get heavily into what they call direct fuel injection on most its engines in the next decade to save fuel. And the company discovered something very clever that it can do with that technology.
When an engine stops, the computer that controls it knows the exact position of each piston. And when you go to start the engine, it knows which piston is ready for its power stroke. So it injects fuel into that cylinder and then instantaneously commands the spark plug to fire, which detonates the fuel, pushes down the piston and…starts the engine.
In other words, Ford has figured out a way to start an engine without a starter, and it’s going to incorporate that technology into its hybrid systems to hold down wear and tear and reduce the cost.
John McElroy is an influential thought leader in the automotive industry. He is a journalist, lecturer, commentator and entrepreneur. He created “Autoline Daily,” the first industry webcast of industry news and analysis.
