METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HEATING THE INTAKE AIR OF AN ENGINE

The present invention relates to a method of heating the intake air of an engine using an electric supercharger, the supercharger comprising a compressor wheel and an electric drive assembly for rotating the compressor wheel; wherein the supercharger is arranged to operate in a charging configuration in which the compressor wheel is rotated in a first direction such that the engine is supplied with an air charge, and characterised in that the method of heating the intake air comprises the step of operating the supercharger in a second configuration, in which second configuration the compressor wheel is rotated in a reverse direction, opposite to the first direction.