Pulstar Pulse Plugs have increased the fuel economy of 2005 and 2007 Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles by 6 to 8 percent, or 3 miles per gallon, according to the company.
Tests on the vehicles’ acceleration also showed improvements of 5 percent over results with factory-installed spark plugs – a welcome benefit to Prius owners who make compromises in performance for the vehicles’ outstanding fuel economy.
Over the 4-year lifespan of the Pulstar Pulse Plugs, a 3-mpg improvement equates to a 1,344-pound reduction in carbon dioxide emissions in automobiles that can already travel 50+ miles on a gallon of gasoline.
Unlike spark plugs, pulse plugs have an integrated electrical circuit called a capacitor that boosts energy to the spark. The resulting spark improves engine combustion yielding better fuel economy and engine performance, according to the company.