The current hype in the automotive industry has been around alternative propulsion vehicles. While the public debate on the direction of the industry drifts towards electric and hybrid solutions, car and truck manufacturers continue to focus primarily on internal combustion engine downsizing to gain fuel efficiency and meet the stringent requirements of both the US CAFE standards and the European Commission’s Regulation on CO2 emissions for both light and commercial vehicles.
By way of illustration, a turbo fitted to a small engine equals the power of a large engine combined with the fuel efficiency and improved emissions of a small engine.
Turbocharging is the most affordable “green” technology available today, as it increases fuel efficiency through engine downsizing without compromising performance and the thrill to drive. By way of illustration, a turbo fitted to a small engine equals the power of a large engine combined with the fuel efficiency and improved emissions of a small engine. Delivering up to 20% better fuel economy in vehicles with gasoline engines, and up to 40% fuel savings on diesel engines, turbochargers have become the choice for many OEMs striving to meet societal and regulatory demands.
The global turbo industry is expected to grow at an annual rate of 10% a year in the next five years, from 22 million turbocharged vehicles today to 35 million in 2015.
The global turbo industry is expected to grow at an annual rate of 10% a year in the next five years, from 22 million turbocharged vehicles today to 35 million in 2015. Europe will continue to be the leading region in terms of turbocharger adoption across light and commercial vehicles, exceeding 70% penetration by 2015. In North America, a key automotive market with one of the lowest penetrations of turbochargers, turbo use will double to 20%, up from a projected 11% today. China will also see its turbo market grow from 11% in 2010 to 25% in 2015. To accompany this trend, Honeywell will debut more than 100 new turbo engine applications this year alone on passenger and commercial vehicles across the globe and has 500 in total in its development pipeline.
According to industry research, global turbo penetration is expected to reach more than 70% during the next 10 years. By contrast, electric vehicles are likely to remain below 10% for the same period.
The growth in all regions is primarily driven by the increased adoption of smaller, turbocharged gasoline engines. OEMs have turned to turbocharged engines for several of the world’s most fuel efficient vehicles in each region. Turbochargers are fitted in vehicles such as the 2011 Chevy Cruze in the US, which delivers a class-leading 42 mpg highway rating according to the EPA; the 2010 Volkswagen Polo in Europe, the world’s most fuel efficient five-seat car; and the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid, the world’s first turbo gasoline-electric hybrid. New applications in China and other global markets are being developed and launched on a regular basis as the benefits of turbocharging allow manufacturers to meet both market and regulatory demands.
According to industry research, global turbo penetration is expected to reach more than 70% during the next 10 years. By contrast, electric vehicles are likely to remain below 10% for the same period. Turbo technology is clearly going mainstream.
The opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Automotive World Ltd.
David Paja is Vice President, Global Marketing at Honeywell Turbo Technologies
Honeywell Turbo Technologies is the world’s leading automotive turbocharger developer, supplying technology solutions to nearly every major vehicle manufacturer worldwide. The Turbo Technologies business is part of Honeywell Transportation Systems, which enhances vehicle performance, efficiency and appearance through state-of-the-art technologies, world-class brands, and global solutions tailored to the needs of its automotive customers around the world.
For more information, contact Mike Stoller at Honeywell Turbo Technologies – Tel: +1 734 392 5525 or email: michael.stoller@honeywell.com
http://www.honeywellbooster.com/
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