Drive-by-wire is good for a lot of efficiency technologies because it enables the elimination of the throttle plate, and therefore of many kinds of throttling l

Drive-by-wire is good for a lot of efficiency technologies because it enables the elimination of the throttle plate, and therefore of many kinds of throttling losses (see MultiAir, ValveTronic, ValveMatic, etc.). It also enables simpler cruise control and traction/stability control systems. The addition of computers to cars is mostly a plus (IMO) but the hidden complexity is frightening to say the least.