In comparison to the mechanical linkage between accelerator pedal and throttle valve, an “Electric accelerator unit”, developed by VDO, makes if possible to assess the position of the pedal not, as has been customary, as an “order” from the driver, but as a “request”. It is left up to the electronic control module to set the proper fuel economy-oriented engine condition on the basis of given input data, such as rotational speed, vehicle speed, temperature, gear setting, etc.
A number of applications, already proven advantageous in practice such as
are discribed.
Another control unit which provides fuel economy is the idle speed control using a controllable air bypass.
With this unit it is possible to reduce the idle speed down to the lowest possible engine speed, which can save approx. 15% on fuel in city traffic.