BMW Patents Electric Turbocharger, Will We See It In The Next M3?
First it was the bi-turbo V6 patent that leaked, and now BMW has filed for a patent on their electric turbocharger, leading to new rumors for what will potentially power the next generation M3. Ever since BMW started regularly employing turbochargers on their factory powerplants, they’ve been seeking ways to efficiently address the issues of turbocharger lag vs power at higher RPM.
The potential answer to the very old dilemma of turbochargers may be hidden in BMW’s plans for an electric turbo that was recently sent into the German patent office. The goal is to have an electric turbocharger that utilizes a small electric motor to work in tandem with a larger, more conventional turbo. The electric motor will power the electric turbo’s turbine during the transition from idle to load, drastically reducing turbo lag. In addition, BMW claims that the electric turbo will increase fuel efficiency by helping keep the engine in its optimum operating range.
What we’ll really see in the next generation M3 is still up in the air, but it’s great to see that BMW is looking to push the envelope in improving turbocharger technology that has been around for decades.
[Source: F30 Post]
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
More by Jason Siu
Comments
Join the conversation
Congratulations to BMW, is on right way, only remain the upday on two strokes engine and other idea that I have, this idea have a value of a lot of millions of euros.
I think that this electric supercharger designed by BMW can be the begining of electric superchargers for cars with limited forced inductions options. http://www.b2belectricsupercharger.com/