Mercedes will bring F1 tech to AMG road cars with the electric exhaust gas turbocharger

Developed in partnership with Garrett Motion, the Electric Exhaust Gas Turbocharger (EEGT) can virtually eliminate turbo lag!

We've known for quite a while that Mercedes-AMG is gearing up to embrace an 'electrified' future for its road cars that'll be reliant on hybrid powertrains. We've even seen an early prototype of the Mercedes-AMG GT73 4-door plug-in hybrid, perhaps the first hybrid model of the larger '73' family of electrified AMG models. However, the latest development on this front comes from the world of F1, and it takes care of an old foe called turbo lag.

Mercedes-AMG, in collaboration with Garrett Motion, has developed a new electric turbocharger, specifically known as the 'electric exhaust gas turbocharger' that is capable of spinning at up to 1,70,000rpm. This new e-turbo, with assistance from a small electric motor, is capable of delivering the best of both worlds, that is, of combining the quick response of a small turbocharger and the high peak performance of a larger turbo.

The EEGT works like a normal turbocharger but, in addition, has a small 4cm electric motor installed on the charger shaft between the turbine wheel on the exhaust side and the compressor wheel on the fresh air-side. This electronically-controlled motor drives the compressor wheel before it accepts the exhaust gas flow, which results in the engine responding more spontaneously to the smallest accelerator input.

In other words, the electric motor is capable of maintaining the boost pressure at all times, even while braking/deceleration, which ensures virtually no turbo-lag and immediate engine response. In addition, electrification of the turbocharger also allows higher torque generation at low engine speeds, which provides a more dynamic drive experience.

Folks at AMG are yet to confirm the new model that will receive this e-turbo.

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