In the 80s, Volvo was one of the first car manufacturers to embrace turbocharging for the street, so it’s no surprise that they would be the ones to roll out a new style of turbocharged engine that is promised to achieve 225hp per liter of displacement.  I’ll put that another way, 450hp out of a 2.0.  Volvo assures the new engine is capable of all that power and more.  They are calling the new architecture Drive-E, which of course is just a bunch of buzzword flimflam, but what isn’t is the power, which is very serious indeed.  Fully electronic ignition is paired with a Denso ultra-high pressure mechanically amplified direct injection *gasp* fuel system that ensures a tight tolerance package that can run with high fuel economy and low emissions.  The key to Volvo’s new ‘Drive-E’ engine platform is the use of two turbocharges that are pre-spooled by a third, electrically controlled compressor.  The electric turbo system reduces lag for near instant throttle response, while the twin turbos are there for insane power.  Also they have that sort of sci-fi pod racer feel to them.  Honestly, how many production cars come with a wrapped exhaust manifold?  Very cool, Volvo.

The technology is similar to the current engine/power scheme currently used in Formula 1, where an electrically driven ‘ERS’ system is connected to the turbo compressor, spooling the turbo up before the exhaust gasses have a chance to make their way through the turbine housing.

The result is an extremely light engine that has the raw power of a large displacement V8, the smoothness of a 5cyl, and the fuel economy and lightness of a small displacement 4cyl.  The engine as it sits in the 2015 S60 E-Drive production prototype is of course watered down for street use, only producing around 300hp, but it does that at only 2100rpm.  That’s in contrast to the engine it replaces, that reaches that power only after the revs have passed 5,600rpm.  With the low end torque supplied by electric supercharging combined with the pure thrust when the turbo’s catch up, the power remains hard hitting all the way up the rev range.  Mated with Volvo’s new 8 speed auto, smooth power delivery is going to be what they are known for from now on.  The end result is a powertrain that is highly effective in day to day traffic, while being peppy on the backroads.  Volvo’s in house racing development program, Polestar, will definitely have something in mind when they start using the power plant for their race cars, after  all they had a part in it’s development since the beginning.

Audi is working with Valeo on a similar system that utilizes electric supercharging, so with the advent of electronically controlled systems contributing massively to the performance of the car, we may be sitting atop a tipping point that will start seeing large mechanical systems replaced by electric motors.  The next ten years should prove to be pretty interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt3MZ2hw8d0