Kia’s Optima T-Hybrid Bolts an Electrical Supercharger on Turbo Diesel Engine

Korea’s Kia is showcasing a new diesel-electric powertrain on the Optima T-Hybrid Concept at the 2014 Paris Auto Show.

The production-intent technology, pairs a 1.7-liter CRDi diesel engine featuring both a regular turbocharger and an electric supercharger with a small electric motor powered by a 48V lead carbon battery.

The system allows the car to be driven in electric-only mode at low speeds and when cruising, with deceleration serving to recharge the battery.

The electric supercharger is said to help boost torque and engine response at low engine speeds.

Kia says it chose the use of lead-carbon batteries for the mild hybrid powertrain setup, because “unlike lithium-ion batteries, they require no active cooling and are easier to recycle at the end of the unit’s lifecycle”.

The concept is also equipped with a stop-start system and a new belt-driven starter generator that replaces the conventional alternator.

The hybrid powertrain remains under development with no specific performance or fuel economy figures having been confirmed yet, though, Kia says it’s targeting a reduction of CO2 emissions and fuel economy between 15 to 20 percent over the current Optima Hybrid.

“Demonstrated for the first time in the Optima T-Hybrid, the technology will lower the total cost of ownership of our cars, yet still keep them affordable as an outright purchase for customers,” said Michael Cole, Chief Operating Officer of Kia Europe.

“The new mild hybrid system is our flagship technology for improving the efficiency of our internal combustion-powered models. In future, technology such as this will help Kia further reduce fleet emissions in Europe,” added Cole.

It’s very likely that the new powertrain will appear in the next generation Optima that we recently spied testing in Europe.