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Old 01-04-2014, 03:58 PM   #56 (permalink)
aerohead
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End All

Quote:
Originally Posted by CFECO View Post
I still believe the Template is not the End All shape in every instance, how did the EV-1 do so well? I believe it was by being "Smoooth" and in 3D, the air coming around the sides of the cabin joins with the air from over the roof...more air filling a given space, might allow for some "cheating" on the Ideal. The front is not being worked on yet, it needs a lot of work.
NO $3000 windshields, I'd like to have the base car on the road for $3k to $5k.
I suppose it's all contextual.
Hucho reports that if you're going for the lowest drag,then you're going to end up either with the 'Template' or a wing-derived vehicle.
You can imagine driving a wing:
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/...79_634x286.jpg
Or the 'Template':
http://www.solarracing.org/wp-conten...R_2013_car.jpg
The 'Template' can be easily rendered into a 2-dr or 4-dr with conventional ingress/egress:
http://www.energydigital.com/green_t...arworld_gt.jpg
These two basic body shapes are all we have for exploring the lower limits of drag.
As far as the contour of the 'Template' goes,one could take many liberties with the forebody,although the aft-body conforms to Hucho's stringent and exacting specifications for separation-free design.Which underlies the very foundation of automotive aerodynamic streamlining.
No one has ever beat the 'Template.'
There are a gagillion considerations for decisions regarding the final specifications for a vehicle.Although,if lowest drag is the ultimate driver behind the project,then we're left with only these two avenues of action.
You're looking at thousands of man-hours to create your car.Easily $80,000 if you hired it out to a novice constructor.You've got to ask yourself how much you're willing to gamble on irreversible decisions.
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Last edited by aerohead; 01-04-2014 at 04:20 PM.. Reason: add text
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