Hyboost programme promises engine efficiency

Small torque: A downsized engine that packs a big punch could improve vehicle efficiency without comprising performance

One of the biggest complaints about hybrid and electric cars, whether the problem is real or imagined, is that they don’t perform as well as traditional petrol vehicles, don’t feel the same to drive or don’t respond quickly enough when you put your foot down. Now a £3m project part-funded by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) is aiming to change that by developing technologies to make a small but fuel-efficient engine feel like a much bigger one.

The problem with using such a small engine in a relatively large car is that it leads to an increase in turbo lag the time the engine needs to change speed when you put your foot down. To counter this, the Hyboost team used a VTES electric air compressor or supercharger developed by Controlled Power Technologies to give the engine an extra boost for the few seconds it was needed while the turbocharger was kicking in.