The Development and Introduction of the Automotive Turbocharger: A Case of Innovation in Response to Fuel Economy Regulation

Details

• Creators:
  Ronan, Larry ; Abernathy, William
• Corporate Creators:
  John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Automobile industry
  • Automobiles
  • Diesel engines
  • Costs
  • Fuel consumption
  • Passenger vehicles
  • Vehicle power plants
  • Horsepower
  • History
  • Turbochargers
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT-TSC-NHTSA-79-18 ; HS-804 629
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Abstract:
  This case study examines the evolution of the turbocharger from its invention in 1905 by Dr. A. J. Buechi, to its use on passenger cars in the late seventies. The case makes a number of points. The market for turbochargers has changed over time. In the fifties, suppliers developed a commercial turbocharger for compact, light, high-speed diesel engines which found a large and growing market. Application to the automotive field was slow in coming. Turbochargers found use in competitive racing. Aside from a brief period in the early sixties, the automobile industry did not seriously consider turbochargers for passenger cars until the mid-seventies. Down-sizing and the attendant reduction in engine horsepower in response to the mandated fuel economy standards have created a market for turbochargers. Suppliers played an important role in the success of this innovation.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  DOT-TSC-1355
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/10749/dot_10749_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.28 MB]
• Collection(s):
  Volpe Center
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:ec2740b8b2dc7f66fbb9df440ee5a0399ad277aa1732fbd874e8d145d0a60c7a