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citation needed. I could see an engine using more fuel per unit power at a lower power level but not less fuel overall.

If they did you would just run the engine at 80% all the time and waste the excess in a massive water brake or resistor bank.

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I am sure it is per unit. Means you are better off to run it at high load and battery the excess power, then shut the whole thing off for a bit, vs run it at 50% all the time.

If you have two engines you could be running at 40% each, or shut one down and run the other at 80%, it will be more efficient to do the latter (unless you have to be able to start the idle one quickly and that's not possible if it's at 0%, so then you run one at 75% and the other at 5%).

Engines are simple pumps that operate most efficiently “fully open”

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