Electric supercharger promises instant power boost

Now here’s an idea that could catch on. Controlled Power Technologies has come up with a clever technical solution for the problem of ‘downsizing’ engines without compromising driveability and performance – the electrical supercharger. The company’s low cost production-ready variable torque enhancement system (VTES) employs an electrically driven supercharger on demand (within 350 milliseconds) when the driving conditions demand it. The VTES can be implemented on current vehicles, using existing 12 volt electrical architecture, and when used in series with a turbocharger, the 2kW of electrical power translates into 20kW at the crankshaft.

According to the UK-based automotive technology company, the prospect of oil racing towards $150 a barrel can only accelerate the global trend towards smaller more efficient engines.

Nick Pascoe chief executive of Controlled Power Technologies (CPT) is presenting the new forced induction variant at the JSAE (Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan) international annual congress held in Pacifico Yokohama this week.

“Legislators have recognised the political urgency for reducing carbon emissions in response to increasing consumer concern,” says Pascoe. “However, vehicle manufacturers will only sell reduced CO2 vehicles if the price is affordable to the mass market consumer.

“That only happens when the technologies required to achieve the reduction are sufficiently mature to ensure industry financial risk is minimised. Since the technical risk drives the cost, the only solution is taking smaller, incremental steps – hence the pressing need for low cost micro-hybrid solutions.

“Engine downsizing has been shown to be one of the most cost effective routes to vehicle CO2 reduction and European carmakers are already moving rapidly towards a 30 per cent reduction in the displacement of their mid-sized engines to around 1.4 to 1.6 litre capacity, offering the potential to deliver up to 15 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions.

“In a surprising further reinforcement of this trend, the US market is also now taking CO2 reduction seriously and viewing the option of perhaps a 40 per cent reduction in spark ignition engine displacement. This will be achieved through integrating advanced boosting technologies into optimised induction and exhaust systems, as a potential alternative to embracing higher cost low emission diesel engines.

“Asian and other markets, where small displacement spark ignition engines already dominate, are well placed to take this trend to extremes.

“This global downsizing trend will only succeed, however, if the technology is cost effective and the driving experience still satisfies the mass market consumer. Therefore market success for the car makers will ultimately be influenced by their ability to maintain or improve vehicle driveability at the lowest possible total system cost.

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