Dedicated aero trailer increases EV range

[freebeard]

they opted to tell me how to feel about it rather than describe the facts.

I went back and read the article. I didn't find the part where they tell you how to feel. This thread, on the other hand....


insideevs.com/photo/6986080/polydrops-p19-shorty-teardrop-camper-trailer-with-tesla-model-3/

My evaluation was based solely on the pictures. It appears to riff on the Cybertruck's shape. The fender flares are canted forward, which appears reasonable. The chamfered front edges are a good compromise with a V-shaped nose for cross-wind performance without compound curves.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by freebeard

I went back and read the article. I didn't find the part where they tell you how to feel. This thread, on the other hand....

Agreed.

I skimmed the article too quickly and missed this; " to wing a P19 Shorty behind a Hyundai Ioniq 5 results in 15-percent air drag increase.". That's something.

I'm coming down with something so my attention is even worse than normal.

Would still love to see what an unladen Ioniq 5 normally gets at 55 so we have the full comparison, though the 15% improvement claim is something despite the lack of details to give more confidence.

[Gasoline Fumes]

Originally Posted by aerohead

I believe that all they're saying is that, at 55-mph, and towing the trailer, the Ioniq gets more range than when doing 55-mph solo.

The article doesn't say that. It says it does better with the trailer at 55 MPH than the EPA numbers. Which isn't a useful comparison. They should've done the same drive on the same day without the trailer.

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by Gasoline Fumes

The article doesn't say that. It says it does better with the trailer at 55 MPH than the EPA numbers. Which isn't a useful comparison. They should've done the same drive on the same day without the trailer.

Exactly. Look at the picture freebeard posted. There's no way that is going to increase or not cause a range penalty. Just towing the axle with with the rest of the trailer removed, those big stupid tires alone would be about a 10% range hit.

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I dislike the article immensely. If the "latest CFD" was applied in the design, then share the results of such engineering.

What does an Ioniq 5 get at 55 MPH normally? 3.6 miles per kWh seems like less than it would normally get. I'd expect something like 4 at that speed.

That isn't to dismiss the possibility that a trailer can improve efficiency, but like all "news" these days, they opted to tell me how to feel about it rather than describe the facts.

Of course people are going to get decent efficiency on the freeway by limiting themselves to 55 MPH. I don't know anyone that would limit themselves to that speed. The triple trailer big-rigs don't limit themselves to the legally mandated 55.

At 55mph I would expect some like an ionic to get abut 5 miles per kwh at 55mph just based on my experience with the leaf.

[Phase]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

At 55mph I would expect some like an ionic to get abut 5 miles per kwh at 55mph just based on my experience with the leaf.

Don’t know about the Ioniq 5- but it’s “ Sibling “ the Kia ev6 gets 4.6 at 55mph steady state. Which is a little more aero i think

[oil pan 4]

That's about what leaf gets. I figured a 10 year newer car would do better. Guess not.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

At 55mph I would expect some like an ionic to get abut 5 miles per kwh at 55mph just based on my experience with the leaf.

My guess was 4.5

Certainly anything in the 3.x is worse than the car gets normally at 55.

[Phase]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

That's about what leaf gets. I figured a 10 year newer car would do better. Guess not.

well these are giant huge suvs...

[aerohead]

I read the article, looked at their website, and got some exterior dimensions.
I ran some numbers for the large-battery, single-motor Ioniq 5, it's the most efficient.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And not to punish everyone with the details:
1) Solo, at 55-mph, the Ioniq 5 has 310-miles range.
2) With the 'Shorty', range falls to about 283-miles.
3) With a 1980, NASA gap-fillers, range is about 312-miles.
4) With fender blending and attention to streamlining, mpg just climbs.
5) As an aerodynamic 'system,' and for it's fineness-ratio, the SUV-Trailer combination is capable of around Cd 0.1423, CdA 3.9834-sq-ft ( 0.37 meters-squared ). I'll let everyone calculate the range for that on their own.