Aerocivic - how to drop your Cd from 0.31 to 0.17

[basjoos]

I have a 2005 Prius that my dad gave me for free since it had a bad traction battery (I replaced the battery). I'm retired now and don't have the long commute combined with high gas prices that inspired me to create the aerocivic. I sketched out a design for a removable boat tail that doubles as a cargo carrier that mounts on the back of the prius. But since I don't drive long distances anymore, I'd need to wait for gas prices to go sky high again before it would be cost effective for me to build it. All of my aeromods need to pay for themselves in fuel savings for me to consider doing it.

[basjoos]

Another thing unique to the aerocivic is that it is likely the fastest lean burn car out there. It has the ECU from the European Civic VTEC-E that has a wider window of lean burn operation than the VX or the Insight. It will enter lean burn anytime that the engine is at normal operating temperature and the manifold pressure is above 5 to 6" Hg . It doesn't matter what the outside air temperature or rpm are or whether the VTEC is engaged. I've had it up to 91mph on a flat road in lean burn at which point it still had some available manifold pressure left before it had to drop out of lean burn (suspect it could reach 100 mph in lean burn).

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by basjoos

Another thing unique to the aerocivic is that it is likely the fastest lean burn car out there. It has the ECU from the European Civic VTEC-E that has a wider window of lean burn operation than the VX or the Insight. It will enter lean burn anytime that the engine is at normal operating temperature and the manifold pressure is above 5 to 6" Hg . It doesn't matter what the outside air temperature or rpm are or whether the VTEC is engaged. I've had it up to 91mph on a flat road in lean burn at which point it still had some available manifold pressure left before it had to drop out of lean burn (suspect it could reach 100 mph in lean burn).

That is really cool, too, but the ECU would likely be an automatic fail here. Maybe make sure that any buyer out of state knows such details or they might be pretty iritated if they come from one of the 12 states that have adopted the California emissions standards.

I still like the museum purchase idea.

[aerohead]

Seems like, any car which can exceed the highway MPG of some BEVs would be an immediate 'PASS' as far as emissions regulations go. Only pedants, with zero understanding of automotive engineering could possibly enforce rules which actually result in higher emissions. ( Peter Principle)

[Bicycle Bob]

Originally Posted by aerohead

Seems like, any car which can exceed the highway MPG of some BEVs would be an immediate 'PASS' as far as emissions regulations go. Only pedants, with zero understanding of automotive engineering could possibly enforce rules which actually result in higher emissions. ( Peter Principle)

The whole uproar about VW's test-tricking program falls into that category. By allowing excess nitrous oxide, VW was able to raise combustion temperature, and save a lot of CO2 emissions and improve mileage. Their numbers were always a big red flag, considering that the system had no scrubber. I think that it was a good trade-off, but we never hear about the benefits they obtained.
However, good mileage is no charm. A weed eater puts out more smog than a car.

[basjoos]

I guess there's not much interest in the general motoring public for a car like the aerocivic, other than vaguely in its novel appearance. It's only within that small fraction who values fuel economy who values it, and with our current low gas prices, that small fraction is even smaller than normal.

[M_a_t_t]

I've found the same. I've had a few people tell me I should make a kit for my boat tail and sell them. My response is always

Originally Posted by Myself

Would you put that on your car?

Then they don't mention it again.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by basjoos

I guess there's not much interest in the general motoring public for a car like the aerocivic, other than vaguely in its novel appearance. It's only within that small fraction who values fuel economy who values it, and with our current low gas prices, that small fraction is even smaller than normal.

Museum. Museum! Museum!!

[M_a_t_t]

Or. Hopefully someone on Ecomodder will buy it and get it to break a million miles!

[Bicycle Bob]

How about Jay Leno's collection? He might tart it up a bit, but he's sure to wax enthusiastic on TeeVee.