What is an electric turbo?

Thefirst turbo was produced in 1925launched. Meanwhile, innovation followed innovation. Today there is even talk of electric turbos. Why is this good news? The electric turbo is the solution for a well-known turbo problem: the so-called turbo lag. We explain how such an electric turbo works.

A turbo lag is an area in the rev range of the car in which the turbo does not have enough pressure. The car then does not deliver optimal performance. Over the years, several attempts have been made to tackle the turbo lag. Among other things with the variable turbo, dumpvales and double turbo systems. Without success, however.

The electric turbo differs from a conventional turbo by the drive, namely with an electric motor. In a traditional turbo, its operation is driven by the engine's exhaust gases. However, it can take some time for a turbocharger to fully ramp up, resulting in a delay in delivering additional power (also known as "turbo lag"). Those are times when the engine is not performing optimally.

The operation of an electric turbo

The electric turbo has been developed to prevent these problems. This is mounted in the intake pipe of the engine. The electric turbo is able to deliver the desired pressure within 250 ms. After the electric turbo has done its job, the conventional turbo takes over.

An electric turbocharger adds an electrically driven compressor to the turbo system. This electric compressor can quickly and instantly push additional air into the intake system without having to wait for the exhaust gases to build up pressure.

The electric turbocharger is powered by an electrical system, such as a battery or a 48V on-board system, and can be integrated with other technologies, such as regenerative braking or energy storage systems. The purpose of an electric turbocharger is to improve engine responsiveness and extend the power range, especially at lower RPMs.

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