Electric Turbo

[Bugone]

I've been thinking what the effect would be of adding an electric turbo (supercharger) to an Insight, to boost low rpm performance.

Now I know that the junk on ebay doesn't put anywhere near enough air to have any effect on a 'normal' cars performance. However on an Insight, you would be looking to improving power at low rpms where airflow is generally a lot lower.

I've been reading about the new Audi electric turbo. I'm sure that would put out a fair amount of air. Probably way too much for an insight. However it does show that the concept is valid.

Audi reveals electric turbocharger technology | Autocar

Plus of course, the insight also does have an abundance of electrical capacity compared to a normal car.

Thoughts?

[Cobb]

The folks on ecomodder say no. I want to get a cfm meter and measure the intake draft and the output of a leaf blower. If they look like a possible gain, Id like to try the 2 with an inverter and see if anything is gained with seat of the pants dyno.

[Willie Williford]

The key there is "In conjunction with a conventional turbo".
The idea of how to do it is valid, but it is also very complicated.
I wonder what kind of motor they use to spin the turbo to 50K?
(If only I had the bucks to play)

Willie

[Cobb]

Guessing a gearless brushless motor like they use in those newer style radio controled vehicles.

[The Citrus Smoothie]

This is something I have thought about in the past as well. A 5psi supercharger (or even turbo) would be great but do it 'properly' will cost £££s. It is a shame we don't have the same level of fabricators and garage shops that they seem to have in America.

.

[Bugone]

In the link is a diagram of the Audi setup. Wonder if many people will be buying the Audi turbo as a part, to install n other cars.

[The Citrus Smoothie]

Hasn't this been done by the VW group before, with their supercharged / turbocharged TSI engines?

Sadly the trouble is to buy the part separately will still cost £££s.

[kaypee171]

Look up Thomas Knight in old threads. He even did it to an Insight using a grid charged hybrid battery as his power source.

[Willie Williford]

I don't think he used the IMA battery, I believe he had an extra 12V battery installed.
His motor was basically a 12V starter if I remember right.
Guess I had better search/research again.
I don't know of any Insighter that has his mod.

Willie

[Hitech]

It wouldn't be a supercharger but rather just a supercharger. You guys are grossly underestimating the HP required to provide positive boost. Even for our little engine, to get 1 PSI will take at least 2 HP, @ 12 V would be 125 amps even at 144 V is 10 amps (not counting for losses in converting to high frequency commutation for a "brush-less" DC motor), turning at well over 100,000 RPM. With the existing Compression ratio, getting detonation will be easy , as a result, the timing will be retarded by the knock sensor and there will be no net gain (except to look cool).