(R)EVOLUTION - The turbocharger revolution

The turbocharger revolution

Few innovations have contributed as much to redefining the balance between power and fuel efficiency as the turbocharger. Its principle is based on a simple but visionary idea: using the energy from exhaust gases, which is usually lost, to compress the air entering the engine. By increasing the amount of air available for combustion, more power and torque are obtained without increasing engine size or fuel consumption. It was an ingenious invention that would profoundly transform the automobile.

The concept is not new: as early as 1905, Swiss engineer Alfred Büchi filed a patent for a turbine supercharger. But it would be several decades before the technology found practical and reliable applications in the automotive industry. It was in the mid-1970s that the turbocharger truly entered the industrial era. The industry first adopted it for diesel engines, where it combined increased power, reduced fuel consumption and endurance, three qualities that were particularly sought after in the context of the energy crisis.

Success was rapid. Thanks to the turbo, smaller engines could offer performance comparable to that of much larger engines, while limiting fuel consumption. For motorists, it was a new driving experience: more torque available at low revs, increased flexibility and the ability to maintain high speeds with controlled fuel consumption. Energy efficiency became synonymous with driving pleasure.

Over the years, engineers have perfected the system. Variable geometry turbos have appeared, allowing the orientation of the blades to be adjusted according to engine speed in order to optimise response and reduce the famous “latency time” or turbo lag. Twin-turbo solutions, combining two compressors of different sizes, provide extra power and better progressiveness. Finally, electronic management and air flow optimisation make it possible to get the most out of this technology, combining ever-increasing performance and fuel efficiency.

Today, the turbocharger has become indispensable for both traditional combustion engines and hybrid powertrains. In a context where reducing engine size and improving energy efficiency are priorities, the turbo remains a valuable ally. It extends the life of combustion engines by making them cleaner, more compact and better suited to current environmental constraints.

From Alfred Büchi’s intuition in 1905 to the sophistication of modern systems, the turbocharger tells a story of ingenuity and adaptation. It perfectly illustrates the automotive industry’s ability to evolve by turning constraints into opportunities and making performance a driver of sustainable efficiency.