Leading mobility solutions company BorgWarner has entered into a global agreement with a major European OEM to supply its advanced eTurbo for use in a high-voltage hybrid passenger car. This order will be the company’s first application of its electrically assisted turbocharger in a high-voltage hybrid vehicle.
According to the company, the eTurbo helps the OEMs significantly enhance engine efficiency and achieve performance benefits while also enabling them to meet increasingly strict emissions regulations.
The eTurbo is a mechanical turbocharger equipped with an ultra-high-speed electric motor coupled directly to the shaft. Customers have the choice of integrated or semi-integrated power electronics. The company’s solution provides the additional benefit of electrified boost assistance for an enhanced response along with customary turbocharger advantages. It delivers more than 200% faster transient boost response, along with a 50% reduction in time-to-torque, nearly eliminating turbo lag and further supporting engine downsizing. This electrified turbocharger is suitable for Miller cycle engine concepts, delivering improved fuel economy and reduced emissions without losing performance.
The eTurbo can also serve as a generator, collect excess exhaust energy and convert it into electrical energy. Repurposing the energy is effective for accessory power or charging the battery, even enabling the use of a smaller battery size. Additional benefits of the boosting technology include its ability to decrease emissions through after-treatment management and precise air-fuel ratio control. By having the capability to increase engine backpressure to reduce emissions, the eTurbo also supports on-demand exhaust gas recirculation.
Joe Fadool, President and General Manager, BorgWarner Emissions, Thermal and Turbo Systems, said, “Our eTurbo is a single machine solution with integrated power electronics able to deliver robust electrified boost assistance and recuperation to a wide range of vehicles. BorgWarner has a long, productive history with this manufacturer, and we are excited to deliver enhanced engine efficiency and performance to our client through this 400V hybrid application.”
High-voltage hybrid vehicle production with BorgWarner’s electrified turbocharger is expected to begin in September 2023, the company said.