Does Electric Turbo Work and What Makes It Different from Other Turbo Systems?

Electric turbo systems are a game-changer in the world of performance vehicles. They work by using an electric motor to drive the turbine, which compresses air and forces it into the engine's cylinders.

Unlike traditional turbo systems, electric turbo systems don't rely on exhaust gases to drive the turbine. This makes them more efficient and responsive, with faster spool times and improved low-end torque.

One of the key benefits of electric turbo systems is their ability to provide instant boost, even at low engine speeds. This is because the electric motor can provide a direct drive to the turbine, eliminating the need for exhaust gases to build up pressure.

Electric turbo systems are also more compact and lightweight than traditional turbo systems, making them ideal for smaller engines and more complex engine layouts.

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Electric turbochargers offer several benefits and advantages that make them an attractive option for car enthusiasts. They can deliver instantaneous power, eliminating turbo lag and enhancing the driving experience with immediate throttle response.

Instant boost response is a significant advantage of electric turbochargers. According to Garrett's E-Turbo technology, this means saying goodbye to turbo lag and hello to a more responsive driving experience.

Superior fuel efficiency is another benefit of electric turbochargers. By optimizing the air-fuel mixture at all RPM, Garrett's E-Turbo ensures engines run more efficiently, burning less fuel without compromising on performance.

Porsche's electric turbocharger also offers increased efficiency with no turbo lag. This is achieved through an innovative design that excludes the need for higher pressure, resulting in a constant energy output.

Here are some key benefits of electric turbochargers:

The compact and lightweight design of electric turbochargers not only saves space but also contributes to overall vehicle efficiency, supporting enhanced fuel economy and reduced emissions. This is a significant advantage for car owners who want to reduce their environmental impact without compromising on performance.

Turbochargers are forced induction devices that help the engine produce more power by drawing in more air.

They work by reusing high-pressure exhaust gases to spin a turbine, which then forces more air into the engine. Turbos are generally more efficient than superchargers, but they have a slow throttle response time that results in turbo lag.

Superchargers, on the other hand, use a pulley to pull in more air and don't have the same lag issue as turbos. However, they're not as efficient as turbos because they don't make use of wasted energy.

The working principle of an electric turbocharger is similar to a sequential turbocharger, using two smaller turbines to increase engine torque at lower RPM. This is achieved by harnessing the kinetic energy from the exhaust to rotate the electric motor.

The electric motor stores the energy generated from rotation to power the compressor, which forces more air into the combustion chamber, significantly boosting engine power. This is a key benefit of electric turbochargers, providing instant energy to the compressor independent of RPM.

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Porsche's electric turbocharger, for example, uses two smaller exhaust turbines that work with a large bypass valve to achieve this effect. The turbines are rotated due to the kinetic energy from the exhaust, which in turn rotates the electric motor.

Here's a breakdown of the key components involved in the working principle of an electric turbocharger:

The working principle of an electric turbocharger is transformative because it enables higher power rating for engines by de-constraining turbo design from low engine speed requirements. This allows the turbine to be sized to deliver performance without compromise at high speed.

In Porsche's electric turbocharger, the two smaller turbines are used to increase engine torque at lower RPM, while the electric motor provides instantaneous boost via the compressor at lower engine speed. This results in a seamless, efficient air supply to the combustion chamber, markedly increasing power output while enhancing fuel efficiency.

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Turbochargers are forced induction devices that help the engine produce more power during the combustion process by drawing in more air.

The more air and fuel there is in the combustion chamber, the more powerful the combustion is.

Turbochargers reuse high-pressure exhaust gases to spin a turbine, which then forces more air into the engine.

Turbochargers are generally more efficient than superchargers, which use a pulley to pull in more air, because they make use of energy that would otherwise be wasted.

However, turbos have a slow throttle response time that results in turbo lag, making them less responsive than superchargers.

Electric turbos eliminate lag and provide a smooth and instant power boost. They're built for performance, which means they prioritize power over fuel efficiency.

One downside is that electric turbos don't improve your gas mileage as much as traditional turbos, but the added responsiveness usually makes up for this. They reduce fuel consumption by 2% to 4%, compared to traditional turbos which reduce it by 2% to 6%.

Electric turbos are also not as effective at reducing NOx emissions as traditional turbos, which can reduce emissions by up to 23% compared to 20% on a diesel engine equipped with an electric turbo.

Electric turbos eliminate lag and provide a smooth and instant power boost. They save energy by turning themselves off, which is a clever feature.

One of the downsides to electric turbos is that fuel consumption and emissions are second priorities. This means they won't improve your gas mileage as much as traditional turbos.

Electric turbos reduce fuel consumption by 2% to 4%, which is only a 2% difference on the higher end compared to traditional turbos. They reduce NOx emissions by 20% on a diesel engine, which is less than the 23% reduction offered by traditional turbos.

As electric turbos are still a relatively new invention, it's difficult to measure just how effective and reliable they actually are.

The TorqAmp has a unique power supply system that's essentially a big battery box, requiring you to find a spot for it in your car.

This might be a problem for some cars, or at the very least an inconvenience, as you'll need to figure out where to put it.

The turbo has its own power supply, and when the battery is fully charged, it'll run the turbo for a total of 4 minutes.

For each second you spend in boost, you'll need 10 seconds to recharge the battery, adding up to 40 minutes of driving without boost for a full charge.

This limitation might not be ideal for everyone, but I don't see it as a problem if you're using the TorqAmp on your daily driver.

In fact, if you're only driving on the road and not racing on the track, this is more than acceptable for a daily car.

The power comes on with a push of a button and then you switch it off, and the power supply goes back into charging mode, which is kind of like using nitrous in classic video games.

This system can actually be ideal for the drag strip, where you're only activating boost for a duration of about 20 seconds at a time for each drag race, giving you about 16 races per charge.