Electric turbochargers aren’t exactly new, as they have been used in Formula 1 cars for several years now. With benefits such as virtually no turbo lag and better efficiency, Mercedes-AMG has announced that it is in the final stages of equipping its next-generation cars with the technology.
Developed in partnership with Garrett Motion, the upcoming electric exhaust gas turbocharger is a little different compared to the electric auxiliary compressor used in lesser 53-badged cars like the E 53 4Matic+ and CLS53 4Matic+.
Instead of a separate compressor driven by an electric motor, which feeds air into the engine directly or the turbocharger, the new system uses a compact electric motor measuring about 4 cm that is integrated directly on the charger shaft.
This electronically controlled electric motor, which is placed between the turbine wheel on the exhaust side and the compressor wheel on the fresh air side, drives the compressor wheel before exhaust gasses spin up the turbine. The result is an even more immediate response from the engine and enables higher torque at low engine speeds for improved acceleration.
The company says the new turbocharger operates on a 48-volt electrical system, spins up to 170,000 rpm and can maintain boost pressure at all times (even when decelerating). To ensure optimum cooling, the turbo, electric motor and power electronics are connected to the combustion engine’s cooling circuit.
For now, it isn’t known which upcoming AMG model will benefit from the technology, although it is reported by Road & Track that the latest M139 2.0 litre mill found in the 45-badged cars might be an early adopter. With rumours indicating the V8 might no longer have a future in AMG’s line-up, an electric-turbocharged M139 might be the engine of choice in larger AMG models like the C 63 as well.
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Isn’t an active-powered charger (ie via engine pulley or electric) is called Supercharger, and a parasitic-powered charger (ie from exhaust) is called Turbocharger?
It is still parasitic-powered.
I think supercharger is parasitic. It takes the energy from the crank pulley to drive the charge, means it takes HP to make HP.
Turbo is literally using wastegas to drive the turbo.
hehe, reminds me of Ebay selling cina-made electric powah siput. Give extra 25hp. Plug and play.
In reality, they are just hairdryer…made to look like turbo.
Its a hybrid electric supercharger/turbo. On the lower end of the rpm where turbo lag is apparent it starts spooling the turbo via an electric motor very much like a supercharger but stops when turbo boost has been reached.
Pros n cons. On the bright side your turbo boost is always ready when you need it but with every electronic system it will throw u a fault code when one of the sensors kaput or gives a false signal.
Hmmm no V8 means we’re left with the V6 and inline 6 engines. Let’s hope we don’t go below 6 cylinders…
Yea. I share the same hope too. However not that this matters to most of us Malaysian given the high pricing for higher cc cars
With the control module sitting at the turbo itself…electronics and heat does not mix well. In this case its extreme heat.
Development costs are so high nowadays that a V8 cannot be justified any more.