Electric superchargers ready for production

[Plex]

CPT claims an electrically-supercharged 1.2L engine offers similar performance to a naturally-aspirated 2.0L

Current hybrid technology uses electrical energy stored in a battery to power an electric motor connected to an internal combustion engine, but there are other ways of harnessing electrical energy to help save fuel. Engineers in the UK have developed a new system where electrical energy can be used to drive a supercharger and boost performance of an engine.

Conventional superchargers are powered by a belt connected to the car�s engine. As more power is dialed up, the supercharger draws more and more power away from the engine and in turn burns more fuel.

Earlier this year British firm Controlled Power Technologies (CPT) revealed an electric supercharging system developed for small fuel-efficient engines that does away with the belt system. Dubbed the Variable Torque Enhancement System (VTES), the new system is ready for mass production and can be applied to all types of petrol and diesel engines including those already turbocharged.

Tests undertaken by CPT show that when the new electric supercharger is applied to a radically downsized and down-speeded engine, it significantly increases the initial response, delivering more torque at low engine speeds.

Initial testing has shown that a 1.2L engine with an electric supercharger can provide the performance of a 2.0L motor, with typically a 40% improvement in acceleration times over a non-forced induction motor of the same size. For diesel engines, a near instant air supply enables delivery of high torque with minimal particulate emissions, helping to keep CO2 emissions low.

CPT has now signed a deal with Switched Reluctance Drives Limited to start developing OEM units that will eventually appear in production cars. No release date has been given but given the desperation in the auto industry for cleaner and more fuel efficient cars the wait shouldn't be long.

Motorauthority