Abstract: In a two-stage concept for supercharging of internal combustion engines, in which the first stage is performed by an exhaust-gas turbocharger and the second stage by an electrically driven compressor, the compressor is also used to provide the secondary air used for the heating of a catalytic converter. In this manner, the catalytic converter quickly reaches an efficient operating temperature.

Abstract: A invention at least relates to a method for determining the load on an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, operating parameters of the internal combustion engine being recorded and at least one value representing the load is read from a characteristic diagram as a function of the operating parameters recorded, and for at least one further parameter, which is recorded by a sensor already present in the vehicle and which is not an operating parameter of the internal combustion engine, being taken into account in the determination of the load.

Abstract: A system and method for aligning the beam path of a beam-emitting sensor arranged on a motor vehicle. Convenient and nevertheless highly precise setting of the beam direction of the beam-emitting element is possible if, when the vehicle is stationary, an external aligning beam propagating along or parallel to an actual direction of travel of the motor vehicle 1 hits a strictly planar surface on the sensor which reflects the aligning beam, the incident aligning beam and the reflected aligning beam are made to overlap as a result of the position of the sensor being changed.

Abstract: In a two-stage concept for supercharging of internal combustion engines, in which the first stage is performed by an exhaust-gas turbocharger and the second stage by an electrically driven compressor, the compressor is also used to provide the secondary air used for the heating of a catalytic converter. In this manner, the catalytic converter quickly reaches an efficient operating temperature.