An electrically-assisted turbocharger (EAT) is an arrangement where an

electric motor An electric motor is an electrical machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. Most electric motors operate through the interaction between the motor's magnetic field and electric current in a wire winding to generate for ...

assists the gas-driven

turbocharger In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...

in providing

forced induction In an internal combustion engine, forced induction is where turbocharging or supercharging is used to increase the density of the intake air. Engines without forced induction are classified as naturally aspirated. Operating principle Overvi ...

, particular at times when exhaust gas flow is insufficient to produce the desired boost. Some systems integrate the motor inside a turbocharger, while others use a separate

electric supercharger An electric supercharger is a specific type of supercharger for internal combustion engines that uses an electrically powered forced-air system that contains an electric motor to pressurize the intake air. By pressurizing the air available to th ...

Systems

BorgWarner

BorgWarner tested the idea in the 1990s, but never produced a part for production vehicles because of high power consumption, until the

Mercedes-Benz M256 engine The Mercedes-Benz M256 engine is a turbocharged straight-six engine produced since 2017, when it was first introduced on the W222 S450. It replaces the previous M276 V6 engine, and is Mercedes' first straight-six engine since the M104 engine. ...

(2017), which used a 48-volt electrical system. , BorgWarner markets two EAT solutions: a standalone "electric compressor" (i.e. supercharger) named eBooster and a turbocharger with a single-shaft motor attached named eTurbo.

Garrett Motion

In October 2019, Garrett Motion announced its first electric turbocharger for market passenger vehicles, with expected launch in 2021. The design adds an electric motor between the turbocharger's turbine wheel and compressor wheel. The 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL 43 convertible uses the

Mercedes-Benz M139 engine The M139 is a turbocharged inline-four engine produced by Mercedes-Benz. It is the successor of the M133 engine. It is also the first four-cylinder engine by AMG to be specified with two outputs, to be assembled by hand using "one man, one engine ...

, which features the integrated Garrett Motio EAT.

Volkswagen TDI

The TDI line used by the Audi brand has seen 4.0 V8 TDI 310-320kW, used on the Audi SQ7 and more. It has 2 turbochargers and 1

Volvo

In 2010, Volvo started to experiment with electrically-assisted turbochargers. The result was unveiled in 2014, a 450hp 2.0L High Performance Drive-E Powertrain Concept engine, which used a 48-volt electrical system for the electric booster. The engine has three turbos, with the electric "turbo" driving the exhaust turbines of the

twin-turbo Twin-turbo (not to be confused with a twincharger setup, which is a combination of a supercharger and a turbocharger) refers to an engine in which two turbochargers work in tandem to compress the intake fuel/air mixture (or intake air, in the case ...

. Despite initial reports that the

Volvo XC90 The Volvo XC90 is a mid-size luxury SUV manufactured and marketed by Volvo Cars since 2002 and now in its second generation. The first generation was introduced at the 2002 North American International Auto Show and used the Volvo P2 platform ...

T6 would have an related improvement, only the 2016

T8 actually received a ''Twin Engine'' starter-generator-supercharger in addition to the mechanical twincharger arrangement. In 2019, Volvo reiterated plans to replace the mechanical supercharger with an electric one.

Abandoned

In the late 1990s, Turbodyne also investigated EAT designs.

Related devices

also uses an electric motor to power the compressor, however the electric motor is the sole power source in an electric supercharger. A turbocharger that can divert some of the exhaust gas to produce electricity (using the vehicle's

alternator An alternator is an electrical generator that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy in the form of alternating current. For reasons of cost and simplicity, most alternators use a rotating magnetic field with a stationary armature.Gor ...

) is sometimes called a ''hybrid turbocharger''.

References

{{Reflist Engine technology Turbochargers de:Motoraufladung es:Sobrealimentador id:Supercharger it:Compressore volumetrico