What Are Electric Superchargers, And Do They Actually Work?

Superchargers have been around for decades and have provided a valid alternative to turbocharging. Instead of the conventional mechanical turbocharger, is it preferable to have electronically controlled forced-induction?
What Are Electric Superchargers, And Do They Actually Work?

There’s nothing quite like a supercharger whine. That high-pitched shriek from the belt-driven mesh as it compresses air into the cylinders is one of our most loved sounds as petrolheads. Almost seen as a ‘bolt on’ application, some of the greatest powertrains ever made have been supercharged, be it Jaguar’s V8, the 5.4-litre engine from the Mustang GT500 or the 638bhp motor from the Corvette ZR1. Although Formula One has come along and used electric motors for turbocharging purposes, electric superchargers have also been floating around the internet as a possible modification in the last few years. So how do they work?

There are two types of electric supercharger. The first is more of a fan than specifically a supercharger. Attached directly to the inlet manifold, the cylindrical component acts basically as a desk fan, sucking air into the intake and then forcing it into the cylinders. You can find plenty of these contraptions on the Internet but it is essentially a big scam. These ‘superchargers’ are in fact only bilge pumps, designed to help pump unwanted water from the deck of a small boat.

Don't go near any of these 'bolt-on' components
Don't go near any of these 'bolt-on' components

Due to the small fins and relatively low speed of these pumps, they struggle to create any real form of compression. This lack of compression means that the inlet air gains little to no pressure and therefore the air entering the cylinders barely gains any energy, resulting in no real power increase.

The second type of electric supercharger uses a donor turbocharger with an electric motor attached, otherwise known as an E-supercharger. The electric power is converted to torque from the electric motor to the spinning impeller within the turbocharger which will be forced to spool up at the rate of the increase of electrical current flowing through it. Due to the purpose-built fins within the turbo, the incoming air will be compressed to a level that will pressurise the air supply to the cylinders enough to see genuine power gains.

This is the real deal. It also has a decent-sized motor attached which always helps.
This is the real deal. It also has a decent-sized motor attached which…

The electronics come in the shape of an electric motor connected to the throttle either at the throttle body in the engine bay or at the throttle pedal. This allows for the electric motor to spin the fan at a rate in proportion to the amount of throttle being applied, simulating the belt-driven action of a conventional mechanical supercharger. This motor is powered by an attachment to the car’s battery which brings up an inherent problem with electric supercharging.

Compressing air takes a whole load of energy; around 6-7bhp for every psi of boost is sapped from an engine to drive a mechanical supercharger. Applying that to electronics, a 12-volt battery will barely be capable of providing the energy needed to perform anywhere near the same capabilities of an engine’s crank. Therefore, electronic supercharger kits from eBay or any other website will generally provide little to no increase in power and may even cause a net decrease in power by sapping the charge from the battery. Although an E-supercharger can create the required boost, it still needs a large electrical supply to function to its full potential.

A 12V battery is really going to struggle to keep up with an E-Supercharger after dealing with this lot
A 12V battery is really going to struggle to keep up with an E…

Therefore, to power all of a car’s electrical equipment as well as an additional E-supercharger, a 48-volt battery would really be needed. Although, considering the sheer amount of electrical tech on cars these days, it probably won’t be long until a 48-volt unit becomes standard.

The benefits of an electric supercharger come in the form of a minimal lag time and a high rotational speed. While turbochargers can take a couple of seconds to spool up and mechanical superchargers still having some inherent lag, an electric supercharger can spool fully in as little as 0.5 seconds through the direct connection with the throttle, giving virtually instant maximum boost. Mechanical superchargers max out at around 60,000rpm whereas the electrical equivalent can reach a speed of up to 120,000rpm, even higher than most turbochargers.

A proper E-Supercharger, with the electric motor combining with the turbocharger housing
A proper E-Supercharger, with the electric motor combining with the…

If electric superchargers can be fully engineered and combined with the relevant electrical supply, they could start a new mini revolution within the current obsession of downsizing. With manufacturers having to fully address turbo lag as they create more and more forced-induction engines, electric supercharging could be an instant fix if mass produced. However due to the costs involved with the research and development of such a component - plus the impending change in power supply that would be needed to make it function effectively - it will probably be a while before we see electric supercharging properly taking off.

Mechanical supercharging on the other hand is turning into a thing of the past due to its power-sapping nature and the sheer heat created by such systems. With electronics beginning to dominate in almost every aspect of motoring however, supercharging may well be about to make a comeback. RIP natural aspiration…

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Comments

Roget

They actually doesn’t work in the real world as demonstrated by Mighty Car Mods. The thing that worked better is some leaf blowers and some tubes into the engine

08/13/2016 - 12:52 |
134 | 16
Range Rover (CTthegame tester)

In reply to by Roget

Audi SQ7 TDI uses electric turbocharger, thats why it has max torque at 1000 rpm!

08/13/2016 - 12:58 |
42 | 8
Noimagination

In reply to by Roget

Dude, did you even read the whole article?

08/13/2016 - 14:01 |
48 | 4
Speed_Boy86

In reply to by Roget

You can properly boost an engine with a gas powered leaf blower, just go watch roadkill do it to a chevy monza

12/07/2016 - 15:03 |
0 | 0
Sandeep Ahir

[DELETED]

08/13/2016 - 12:56 |
2 | 28

That literally makes 0 sense!!

08/13/2016 - 16:57 |
0 | 2
Anonymous
08/13/2016 - 13:25 |
82 | 2
Poke

I hope it doesn’t WHINE at me :)

Ba dum tssh

08/13/2016 - 13:26 |
10 | 14
Liam Tully

Sucks to be someone who bought a bilge pump hoping for extra power.

08/13/2016 - 13:53 |
34 | 2

“Sucks”

XD

08/13/2016 - 15:12 |
50 | 2

Blows, more like…

12/17/2016 - 13:43 |
0 | 0
JustaCarGuy

Wow!Electric superchargers finaly i can supercharge my tesla.

08/13/2016 - 14:56 |
110 | 2
Anonymous

Audi had recently proposed to have 48V for their e-compressor concept.

08/13/2016 - 15:52 |
0 | 4
The white comet of Akagi

The first type sucks, the second one also sucks or does it?..

08/13/2016 - 16:47 |
2 | 8

They ALL first suck and then blow

12/17/2016 - 13:54 |
0 | 0
Tasdeeq R34

Are prochargers Electric superchargers?

08/13/2016 - 17:02 |
2 | 6

Prochargers are a type of cenrifugal superchargers (they are belt driven too, Procharger is only a make)

08/13/2016 - 17:36 |
2 | 2

Nah, they are centrifugal superchargers. They use the movement of the crank to power the “fan” or however is called

08/13/2016 - 23:31 |
0 | 0
Sergio Ruelas

So all I need is a fat ass battery with crazy tech to have enough power to that e-supercharger? My weight reduction ways are being challenged

08/13/2016 - 17:09 |
12 | 4