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The supercharger -- long ago blown away by the technology of turbochargers -- finally may be on the verge of finding its place in the rapidly changing world of powertrain technology.
Instead of competing with turbochargers as a means of blasting a denser mixture of fuel and air into an engine, the supercharger could be used in tandem with it, an equal partner, like Laurel was to Hardy or Lennon was to McCartney.
Power management supplier Eaton has been re-engineering the supercharger, removing weight, reducing friction and adding electric motors. Dan Ouwenga, Eaton's North American engineering manager, spoke with Staff Reporter Richard Truett.
Q: Eaton has developed an electrically assisted variable speed, or EAVS, supercharger that uses an electric motor and can be used in gasoline-electric hybrids....