The purpose of a turbocharger is to provide more power, higher efficiency and less lag in power delivery. Engine efficiency has become more important than ever, which has led to the development of smaller engines. However, the power demand has not decreased, which means that the engine displacement loss caused by the small design must be compensated by alternative technologies such as turbochargers, which help to improve power output and fuel economy.
Electric turbochargers offer a solution to eliminate turbo lag while adding additional performance benefits. This allows for a larger turbocharger design that can provide greater power and efficiency gains, stay cooler for longer periods of time, and significantly improve engine responsiveness with a claimed 10 percent improvement in fuel efficiency. When used in diesel engines, this can reduce NOx emissions by up to 20%. In most cases, fuel efficiency will be improved by about.Other manufacturers such as Mitsubishi and BorgWarner are already developing their own electric turbos, with announcements expected to match the electric turbo trend in the near future.
First, let's understand how a conventional turbo works. Naturally aspirated engines draw air into the combustion chamber through the partial vacuum created by piston movement and open intake valves. A turbocharger helps improve the fuel:air ratio in the combustion chamber and more precisely regulates the amount of incoming air by pushing forced air into the combustion chamber. Exhaust gas from the engine spins the turbine, which then powers the compressor through a rotating shaft.
The compressor sucks in GT1549SL Turbocharger AA51-6K682-B air, compresses it, and pushes the air into the cylinder. The downside of a turbo is the lag in accelerating the engine, from low pressure and low rpm to high pressure and high rpm, requiring the turbo to spin. Turbo lag is virtually eliminated. When the rotational speed increases enough, the turbine can partially or fully take over to turn the compressor. This allows the turbocharger to be larger, which in turn produces more power and higher efficiency. What's more, the motor can work in reverse. When the vehicle is slowing or coasting, the inertia of the remaining exhaust gas and turbine rotation can be harnessed by supplying power to the vehicle's battery.