Honeywell to launch 100 new turbos in 2014

Honeywell Turbo Technologies expects to launch more than 100 turbocharger applications involving more than 20 new technologies in 2014. These new applications will serve the company’s global customer base with petrol, diesel, natural gas and hybrid powertrains in both light vehicle passenger and commercial vehicles. 

Honeywell has over 500 current turbo programs in various stages of development in its customer pipeline, which are all expected to come to market in the next few years. Honeywell turbos, including the recently announced Honeywell VNT turbo helping power the Fiat 500L and its 1.6-litre Multi-Jet II diesel engine, make significant contributions to automakers balancing improved fuel economy, lower emissions and enhanced performance.

“Our Honeywell technology roadmap is contributing to Fiat’s current and future engine strategies for fuel efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles. The consistently large number of turbo launches we have each year reflects the value downsizing and turbocharging brings to auto makers in response to global demands for improved fuel economy and emissions without compromising performance,” said Honeywell Transportation Systems president and CEO Terrence Hahn.

Honeywell expects turbocharging to continue growing globally from 31 percent in 2013 to 38 percent by 2018. While Europe is by far the global leader in turbo penetration given the high percentage of diesel vehicles sold, the addition of petrol turbocharging will increase its turbo penetration to nearly 67 percent by 2018. This compares to 2018 estimates of 31 percent of total sales in North America, 33 percent in China and 53 percent in India.

Turbochargers allow a smaller engine to achieve the similar, if not improved, power outputs of larger naturally aspirated engines while being between 20 to 40 percent more fuel efficient in gasoline and diesel engines respectively. The smaller engine size also makes turbos a technology which can help auto makers meet stricter emissions standards. 

These Honeywell technologies are helping auto makers further improve power and fuel economy with more advanced variable geometry turbos in diesels as well as address the growing petrol segment globally with advanced twin scroll designs for 4-cylinder engines.

In 2014, Honeywell says it will bring to market new technologies improving turbocharging performance with innovations such as: new ball bearing designs for improved response and efficiency; improved flow control valves for petrol engines and variable geometry applications for diesel engines to expand performance capability; new sensors for improved engine integration; improved casting processes and materials development for greater temperature range performance at predictable costs; and new aerodynamic designs to improve speed margins of compressor and turbine wheels inside the turbo. 

In India, Honeywell is already a supplier to many OEMs for both BS III and BS IV applications in the country including GM India, Honda Cars India, Volkswagen India besides Maruti Suzuki and John Deere (for their export programmes) as well as Ashok Leyland.

Honeywell has collaborated with General Motors India for its Enjoy MPV with the turbo based on the same platform as the one it developed for the Honda Amaze, although the engine size is smaller in the 102bhp 1.4-litre Enjoy.

In India, within the light vehicle category, turbo penetration has grown from 27 percent in 2010 to over 45 percent in 2012.