History of Turbochargers and Why They Were Invented

Turbochargers have become a key part of modern engines, but their story began more than 100 years ago. The idea started in the late 1800s, when engineers discovered that forcing extra air into an engine could produce more power without increasing engine size.

In 1905, Swiss engineer Alfred Büchi created the first turbocharger by using exhaust gases to spin a turbine that compresses fresh air into the engine. This simple but powerful idea became the foundation of all modern turbos.

Early Use in Aviation

Turbochargers were first used in aircraft, not cars. At high altitudes, the air is thin and engines lose power. Turbochargers helped airplanes maintain full power during World War I and World War II, allowing them to fly higher and faster.

Expansion to Marine, Industrial & Automotive Engines

After aviation, turbos were adopted in ships, trains, and heavy-duty diesel engines for better power and fuel efficiency.
By the 1960s–80s, turbochargers entered the automobile industry, becoming popular in motorsports and later in everyday vehicles.

Modern Turbochargers

Today, turbochargers are used in most diesel and many petrol engines because they deliver:

More power

Better mileage

Lower emissions

Smaller and more efficient engines

Why Turbochargers Were Made

Turbochargers were designed to solve three major problems:

Increase engine power without increasing engine size

Improve fuel efficiency using wasted exhaust energy

Reduce emissions through better combustion