Electrically driven turbos

**obermd** · 12-13-2012, 04:42 PM

If you're working with a hybrid gas/electric vehicle you could use the turbo spin to help recharge the batteries. Lot's of things you can do with extra power. One of the problems with cars today is they can pull more electrical power than most can provide. My Montana's ABS system was a perfect example - the headlights would flicker in sync with the ABS pulses. Just too much current being drawn by the ABS to keep the headlights at full intensity.

**Aussie** · 12-13-2012, 05:00 PM

Trucks use compressed air to apply the brakes, why not use the same principal to give a conventional turbo an initial charge to boost the engine till the turbo spools up? Air tank can be charged when engine running at steady speed and not intrude on power when under load.

**Aftica** · 12-13-2012, 05:21 PM

OK guys, all very interesting points and ideas...

Today it all comes down to power efficiency. A DC or AC electric motor is not considered efficient and especially at very high RPMs. If you do the math the amount of energy used for the electric motor is not as efficient as the exhaust driven turbo. As a guy that is in prototype design for the automotive industry let me say there is technology on the horizon that will improve turbo and efficiency. Interesting concept but the math doesn't add up at the moment.

**NBrehm** · 12-13-2012, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by Aftica

OK guys, all very interesting points and ideas...

Today it all comes down to power efficiency. A DC or AC electric motor is not considered efficient and especially at very high RPMs. If you do the math the amount of energy used for the electric motor is not as efficient as the exhaust driven turbo. As a guy that is in prototype design for the automotive industry let me say there is technology on the horizon that will improve turbo and efficiency. Interesting concept but the math doesn't add up at the moment.

Exactly, well said. There is always a trade off. If nothing else, by the time you make an electric motor with enough juice to have a meaningful difference in performance and enough electricity to power it you have added so much weight that you have most likely negated what you did. It just isn't an efficient way to get to the results you are talking about. Not to mention having to deal with the heat (which electric motors don't like). Sequential or twin scroll turbos, ball bearing turbos or even a super/turbo charger setup would yield much better results.

**jblackburn** · 12-13-2012, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by Aussie

Trucks use compressed air to apply the brakes, why not use the same principal to give a conventional turbo an initial charge to boost the engine till the turbo spools up? Air tank can be charged when engine running at steady speed and not intrude on power when under load.

Huh. That's actually a cool idea. People fit small compressors in cars all the time for train horns.

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**20131pz69** · 12-13-2012, 11:45 PM

the main benefit to an electric turbo is- NO turbo lag, under any conditions (temp/ rpm/ whatever). There is also no additional drain on either the powertrain or restriction to the exhaust system.
It is basically a very cheap KERS system. You don't need a sophisticated system to charge the system or provide energy to the driveshaft. It is also very reliable. No belts that may break or anything special to worry about.
With today's tech, if you want extra power to accelerate- there is enough boost. Enough boost to pass on the freeway or down a 1/4 mile (even in a cruze).
I believe this could even be 3rd world hybrid tech to put honda's IMA (for exampe) to shame if developed properly.