Beetle aerodynamics (full-scale streamlining mockup of original Beetle)

[freebeard]

The reason to do an electric conversion would be to try something like this:



About the picture: I came up empty-handed in Tin Eye, and Google Reverse Image Search doesn't present a camera icon I need to click so... I dunno. It's in a folder on my hard drive. If I look at a picture for more than about 20 seconds, it goes to a folder tree on the hard drive. See above for an example.

Your top could engulf the side window and hatch. Maybe styled along the lines of the poop deck on a galleon with reliefs covered in gold leaf? It would look nice against the black.

Edit: I like the example, even though it tapers the wrong way, because of the trolley top. They let in light, and would reduce lift in a crosswind for aerodynamic advantage.

[ecomodded]

its a hella nice camper bug, the curves are nice on it.

on a similar note :

I removed the passenger seat from my car about 2 years ago or more and only use the flip up the rear seat when i have a passenger (s) other wise its folded down , the car has loads more room like that and without the chair.

Its a 1 seater most of the time ..

My end game with that is to add a single bucket seat off set to the passenger side in place of the rear bench seat. So the car will become a two seater , with a slightly raised one piece floor from the hatch forward to the driver seat with a cut out around the added rear bucket seat.

It will also leave me a flat bed , with the drivers seat pushed forward , for sleeping in on my road trips / sightseeing camping trips.

[ecomodded]

How much money would the bespoke gear box or similar cost ?
with the carbon fiber thrown in there it sounds like a expensive kit.

why not mount a electric motor in place of the Air cooled motor ?

It actually sounds pretty easy , at first glance..

[freebeard]

Its a 1 seater most of the time ..

Funny you should mention that. I took out the shotgun and rear seats completely and replaced them with plywood panels, making an L-shaped deck. It's six feet from the toeboard to the back of the platform. The storage shelf has a large Kool-A-Tron fridge and speakers. In the right rear a removable, upside down aluminum pack frame makes a seat back and the stock seat belt is available. I call it 1+1 seating.

The deck is 1 1/2" above the center tunnel and the forward section lifts up so I can carry tire chains, tow strap, X-shaped lug wrench, road flares & etc. It keeps the trunk tidy. The left rear seatbelt is threaded through the handles of two toolboxes. It's more a utility van than a camper.

It was all transfered from a previous vehicle.
_______

I can see three possible strategies for the electric conversion. Swapping the motor with an adapter plate is easiest; that's why everyone does it. With an electrically reversible motor, one or two speed forward is all that's necessary, so the transaxle becomes redundant. Putting the motor there empties the engine (now battery) compartment.

The third option would be inwheel motors.

[ecomodded]

Inwheel is what I thought would be cheapest , simplest ? for my Beetle , It would become a diesel hybrid.. My idea is to use the electrics from 0-30 mph then i can let the diesel's 5th gear take over. Also make the left rear wheel a generator , when conditions apply , for aiding the charging of the battery pack.


Funny about our beetles seating. I have come to learn , in my old age that we humans are Very much a like in classifications anyways.. and Ideas , holidays etc.

Like the saying goes Great Minds Think a Like

[ecomodded]

I think I will , like was suggested to me by aerohead some days ago , add a foam kammback to the hatch.


I am going to go look for cardboard today , after I put some hours in sanding and painting in the house. I don't think the Car is going to require a elaborate designed hatch, after thinking on it and simplifying it as much as I can , in theory , It should not have to be longer then the hatch itself so I will build off of it with some strategic rivets on the hatch skin into its frame work.

That's the design direction so far , it's much easier to build it doing it this way.

I will probably change ideas once more..

[freebeard]

This could go in the VW Finally thread, but I wanted to break it out of The Lounge, so Zombie thread!

PART 14! Ian Roussel CHOPS THE TOP Of A 1968 VW Bug Radical Custom

I'd said before the most aerodynamic Beetle is BGW Spectre [style] panel van.



This part went up today so we don't know the final result.

But this is the path to a 60MPG Beetle.

[freebeard]

Next episode he stands the windshield upright. I think that's the wrong direction, but it's a good insight into slanting the windshield back.

[aerohead]

Since the Bug shares a lot of architecture, and almost identical Cd with Carl Breer's 1934-1/2 Chrysler DeSoto Airflow aerodynamic test mule, it might pay to re-visit what he did to get to Cd 0.244.
Without a plan-view of your tail, I have no way of advising, but it looks pretty aggressive, and I've seen no evidence that the ( Richard ) von Mises' reflex-camber would benefit the drag.
You're the captain, so you decide, but you're looking at maybe 500-man-hours of fabrication plus materials, and it would be a real shame to have to redo it.

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by myself

The added length is reverse cambered. The first bulkhead is at the position of the earlier 45° tail. The second bulkhead is at the location of the stock rear bumper. It's not an optimal, precise shape.

The reverse camber was included because I was working with 16ft benderboard, so why not?



Breer on the right, an exhaust driven Coanda nozzle on the left