Aerodynamic characteristics of sixteen electric, hybrid, and subcompact vehicles. Complete data

Technical Report · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:5898684

Kurtz, D W

The report presents an elementary electric and hybrid vehicle aerodynamic data base and describes how it was developed. Sixteen electric, hybrid, and subcompact production vehicles were tested in the Lockheed-Georgia low-speed wind tunnel. Zero-yaw drag coefficients ranged from a high of 0.58 for a boxey delivery van and an open roadster to a low of about 0.34 for a current four-passenger prototype automobile which was designed with aerodynamics as an integrated parameter. Vehicles were tested at yaw angles up to 40 degrees and a wind weighting analysis is presented which yields a vehicle's effective drag coefficient as a function of wind velocity and driving cycle. Other parameters investigated included the effects of windows open and closed, radiators open and sealed, and pop-up headlights. Complete six-component force and moment data are presented in both tabular and graphical formats. Only limited commentary is offered since, by its very nature, a data base should consist of unrefined reference material. A justification for pursuing efficient aerodynamic design of EHVs is presented which demonstrates the partitioning of the road energy requirement and the dependence of range upon the aerodynamic drag component over an electric vehicle driving cycle. Establishing this data base is one required element of a larger task, the purpose of which is to develop an aerodynamic design guide for use by the EHV industry.

• Research Organization: Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5898684
• Report Number(s): DOE/JPL/152170-T1; JPL-PUB-79-59
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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330601* -- Vehicle Design Factors-- Body & Chassis
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ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
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