While EVs are becoming more popular, electric technology is being added to combustion engines as well. In recent times, turbochargers have been getting more advanced to combat the much-hated turbo lag. In short, a turbocharger forces more air into an engine, creating more combustion and therefore more power. The problem, turbo lag, occurs because the turbocharger is spun by the exhaust gases emitted by the engine, and therefore takes time to spool up.
That’s where the electric turbocharger comes into play, with 2 variants. The “e-booster,” which sends more air into the turbo, and the “e-turbo,” which is actually a part of the turbo and spins the compressor wheel. Both reduce turbo lag, but the e-turbo is actually integrated into the turbo to spin the compressor before exhaust gases do so. The booster is simply an additional electric compressor that sends air into the turbo before the exhaust gases can do so. The benefits get better though. Geoff Duff, director of applications engineering at Garrett Motion, estimates that in most applications the e-turbo will increase fuel efficiency by 2-4%, but can be as high as 10%. In diesels, NOx emissions can be reduced by 20% with an e-turbo.
Currently, the e-booster is the one commonly used, in newer Audis and certain Mercedes-AMG models, but the e-turbo is starting to make its debut. Garrett Motion, a leader in this field, will likely soon make its mark in Mercedes-AMG’s 45-series cars, in the M139 engine. What’s also interesting is that this will be also be used in Mercedes’ ONE hypercar, an F1 car for the streets, further proving the benefits of the e-turbo. Only time will tell the fate of these, but at least it seems that things are going in the right direction.
For more info:
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/samabuelsamid/2019/10/17/garrett-electric-turbochargers-headed-to-production-in-2021/#5aa3bbc4180a
- https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/car-technology/a32904396/mercedes-amg-electric-turbocharger/
- https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1127892_deep-dive-here-s-how-audi-s-electric-turbocharger-works
