<P> The elimination of cams, lifters, rockers, and timing set reduces not only weight and bulk, but also friction . A significant portion of the power that an engine actually produces is used up just driving the valve train, compressing all those valve springs thousands of times a minute . </P> <P> Once more fully developed, electronic valve operation will yield even more benefits . Cylinder deactivation, for instance, could be made much more fuel efficient if the intake valve could be opened on every downstroke and the exhaust valve opened on every upstroke of the deactivated cylinder or "dead hole". Another even more significant advancement will be the elimination of the conventional throttle . When a car is run at part throttle, this interruption in the airflow causes excess vacuum, which causes the engine to use up valuable energy acting as a vacuum pump . BMW attempted to get around this on their V - 10 powered M5, which had individual throttle butterflies for each cylinder, placed just before the intake valves . With electronic valve operation, it will be possible to control engine speed by regulating valve lift . At part throttle, when less air and gas are needed, the valve lift would not be as great . Full throttle is achieved when the gas pedal is depressed, sending an electronic signal to the ECU, which in turn regulates the lift of each valve event, and opens it all the way up . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards . No cleanup reason has been specified . Please help improve this section if you can . (January 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards . No cleanup reason has been specified . Please help improve this section if you can . (January 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr>

When was the first computer put in a car