Quote:
Originally Posted by newtonsfirstlaw
So yeah, the long and the short of it is that there is a synergistic effect going on, pulse and glide works best with a low CdA.
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Agreed. It's why the Honda Insight was/is a FE monster in the hands of a determined hypermiler. Light weight + low drag (aero, rolling & mechanical).
Another point I've been thinking about lately is that light weight (lower momentum) tends to reveal the impact of poor aerodynamics much more dramatically in a P&G scenario than a heavier vehicle with similar CdA.
I read an account of the Daimler smart car recently where the driver was somewhat surprised/perplexed by its poor coasting ability. At ~1600 lbs (-ish), with
that shape, I wasn't surprised at all.