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With say,33% of the fuels energy lost down the tailpipe,this seems like an interesting field to plow.
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Actually, I find this 33% accurate, and is the basis of the new regulations on the F1. They basically run the turbo without wastegate so, instead of sending the excess exhaust gases through the wastegate, they send all the gases through the turbine and control boost and turbo speed with a motor generator, which recovers that unused thermal energy into electrical energy. That energy is stored in a battery and used in different areas, one being at the same electric generator, reversing it and making it a motor and thus, eliminating turbo lag (I'm not good explaining this, you are the experts, but you get the idea). With this they could lower fuel consumption by 30% in a very high performance car (which is a bit controversial, because the fans wants power, not a fuel-efficient car, but anyway).