Date:         Thu, 17 Oct 2002 12:09:25 -0400
Reply-To:     ian Butler <ian@BLUEMOON.HPLX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         ian Butler <ian@BLUEMOON.HPLX.NET>
Subject:      Re: Increasing horsepower
Comments: To: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <EFD8523F-E1E7-11D6-9170-00039398EEBC@mac.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Thu, 17 Oct 2002, Kim Brennan wrote:

> Not knowing the details, I'd say it is theoretically possible.
> Superchargers are normally powered from the main crank (which means
> that they add more air in proportion to the engine speed.) However,
> with modern electronics, yah, I guess it is possible to add them and
> control them via electronics (and electric motors) instead. I can see
> certain advantages to that too, like no additional friction added to
> the crank...
>
> Nothing's free though, so you might need to put a bigger capacity
> alternator on the vehicle to accommodate the increased electrical load.

Locomotives use electric turbos, basically just person-high squirrelcage
fans.  And I know of a friend-of-a-friend who supercharged his Vespa
motorscooter with a hairdryer...

Still.  Forced induction seems like a bad idea on an already-overstressed
high-compression engine.

ian Butler / ian@hplx.net
'88 Scirocco 16v, '87 Syncro GL