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Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast
That's right, but in spirited driving you constantly get on and off boost, and I think the electric assist motor would need to work each time you get back on boost, even if you keep the RPM high. If the electric assist is only needed in full out of boost situations (like the examples of low RPM in gear acceleration from the article) this would indeed be less of a concern.
My main concern is that this tech would be aimed at allowing for big HP numbers together with high MPG numbers, together with a responsive low end for the casual driver who wants to mash the throttle at the highest gear doing 50 MPH and overtake on the highway. This won't necessarily get an enthusiast friendly engine (as is the common complaint of your typical turbocharged engine today - lack of high end power and character).
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I think as the technology matures a bit it will be awesome. We have to wait and see what kind of battery systems these types of things will require. Right now there's only 2 options of 48V or 800V. It looks like a cool emerging tech, and we will have to see how the aftermarket handles it if it ever really works well.
The way that it looks to me is that you size the turbo for whatever peak power you want, then the motor takes over any time there is insufficient gas to drive the turbo.
I would tend to think that theoretically, is should also allow a larger turbo to spool faster as well. As the electric motor spools the turbo at lower loads, your engine will get more air in that a standard turbo also increasing your exhaust volume and helping to spool the turbo faster. Of course I could also be completely wrong. It could make for some interesting hybrid gas/electric drive systems though.