Joe Toubes is vice president of communications for Honeywell Transportation Systems.
Tell me a little bit about how turbo technologies have evolved to be more fuel efficient?
Early turbochargers were matched mainly to gasoline powered sports cars with the primary objective of delivering power. Today the focus is fuel efficiency, performance and emissions control in gasoline and diesel engines through advances in aerodynamics, high temperature materials, balancing technologies and bearing systems.
Modern turbos have fewer parts, are smaller, spin faster, offer variable flow solutions, work at pressure ratios of around 2-2.5:1 for gasoline and 4-6:1 in diesel engines and are fully interconnected with the engine management system through the latest sensing technology and electronic actuation. Boreless and threaded bore compressor wheels produce high and ultra-high boost pressure, while high capacity, low loss thrust bearings enhance performance and durability.
Turbo technology has had a huge impact on modern engines, to the point where massive amounts of torque are available from very low engine rpm. This allows for a relaxed, responsive, but fuel efficient, passenger car driving experience.
Why is fuel economy/environmental awareness important to you? Does the company have any specific goals it is trying to hit in this area?
Fuel costs and emissions standards are driving an engine downsizing agenda – and OEMs are increasingly looking to Honeywell for the turbo technologies that make small synonymous with powerful. And this is an imperative in which all auto manufacturers must cooperate. The government has set forth standards that must be met, and in order for OEMs to achieve these goals we must help by providing them with cost effective solutions that dramatically improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions, while at the same time maintaining or improving performance. Turbocharging can do that.
How do you balance providing more power with those environmental concerns?
Turbocharging doesn't require OEMs or consumers to give up the performance that they have come to require and expect from their vehicles. By harnessing exhaust gas that otherwise would be wasted, a turbocharger allows for more power from smaller engines with lower levels of exhaust emissions. It's truly a case of having the best of both worlds – a clean power that maintains or improves a vehicle's performance and allows for significant gains in fuel economy and significant reductions in emissions.
What are you hearing from your customers, or the people on the street? What are they asking for?
Our customers are heeding the market signals, such as oil prices, and they're showing a true commitment to the environment. In addition, they recognize that governmental regulations must be met proactively, and they're looking for proven technologies that are affordable to accomplish this. Turbochargers are the perfect match to this request.
Where is turbo technology headed in the future?
Turbocharging as a concept was developed more than a hundred years ago, but the technology today has never been more resonant with the needs of the 21st century. It's no surprise then that turbocharging is going mainstream – going greener, deeper and broader into modern diesel, gasoline and hybrid powertrains as auto manufacturers pursue a downsizing strategy that leverages all the performance advantages of turbo technology.
That's why we are seeing turbos playing an ever increasing role in meeting the performance requirements of smaller and smaller engines – from 1.7L down to 0.6L. At Honeywell we are meeting the growing demand for small but powerful cars by offering the latest technologies that help small engines deliver on both performance and fuel efficiency.
