A recent Bimmerpost article states that BMW has just patented their brand new tech that will spell the end of turbo lag, the electric-powered turbocharger. The bavarians were among the first to realize that bigger turbos aren’t the way to provide smooth, refined outputs and introduced twin turbos for their 3.0-liter. Now, the electric forced induction system will do away with the lag that’s left at the bottom end of the rev range.
Rumors regarding the new piece of tech started with the supposed X3 M that never arrive in Frankfurt, and now it’s believed it will be used in the new M3, which uses a 3.3-liter V6. However, we’ve looked over the schematics a few times, and it looks like this patent could be used as a strand-alone turbine.
You see, this system has an electric motor that is constantly running if there is not enough turbo boost. If you step on the bas, the turbine that uses exhaust to power the air compressor that feeds the engine isn’t used and instead the electric motor takes care of the job.
When the needed exhaust pressure is reached, the electric motor becomes a generator and recharges the battery, while also ensuring the turbine doesn’t run too fast. This basically means there is no longer a need for a waste gate.
What’s more, at medium load, both the electric motor and turbine move the compressor. It all sound terribly efficient, and frugal. The focus here is on low-end torque, so this likely has very little to do with the M3. It likely has nothing to do with a tri-turbo or even bi-turbo configuration. But it’s cool though, isn’t it?
You see, this system has an electric motor that is constantly running if there is not enough turbo boost. If you step on the bas, the turbine that uses exhaust to power the air compressor that feeds the engine isn’t used and instead the electric motor takes care of the job.
When the needed exhaust pressure is reached, the electric motor becomes a generator and recharges the battery, while also ensuring the turbine doesn’t run too fast. This basically means there is no longer a need for a waste gate.
What’s more, at medium load, both the electric motor and turbine move the compressor. It all sound terribly efficient, and frugal. The focus here is on low-end torque, so this likely has very little to do with the M3. It likely has nothing to do with a tri-turbo or even bi-turbo configuration. But it’s cool though, isn’t it?
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