Aerodynamic design of electric and hybrid vehicles: a guidebook

Technical Report · Tue Sep 30 04:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6792502· OSTI ID:6792502

Kurtz, D W

A typical present-day subcompact EHV, operating on an SAE J227a D driving cycle, consumes up to 35% of its road energy requirement overcoming aerodynamic resistance. The application of an integrated system design approach, where drag reduction is an important design parameter, can increase the cycle range by more than 15%. This guidebook highlights a logic strategy for including aerodynamic drag reduction in the design of electric and hybrid vehicles to the degree appropriate to the mission requirements. Backup information and procedures are included in order to implement the strategy. Elements of the procedure are based on extensive wind tunnel tests involving generic subscale models and full-scale prototype EHVs. The user need not have any previous aerodynamic background. By necessity, the procedure utilizes many generic approximations and assumptions resulting in various levels of uncertainty. Dealing with these uncertainties, however, is a key feature of the strategy.

• Research Organization: Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AI01-78CS54209
• OSTI ID: 6792502
• Report Number(s): JPL-PUB-80-69
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330300* -- Advanced Propulsion Systems-- Electric-Powered Systems
330400 -- Advanced Propulsion Systems-- Hybrid Systems
330601 -- Vehicle Design Factors-- Body & Chassis
AERODYNAMICS
DESIGN
DRAG
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
FLUID MECHANICS
HYBRID ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
MECHANICS
MOCKUP
STRUCTURAL MODELS
TUNNELS
VEHICLES
WIND TUNNELS