Dedicated aero trailer increases EV range
 

AeroStealth shared this with me last night. It was immediately accessible on GOOGLE.
I've already posted it on the Fossil-Fuel Free Forum
https://insideevs.com/news/624796/po...q-5-epa-range/

genesis
 

https://ecomodder.com/forum/member-a...est-foiled.jpghttps://ecomodder.com/forum/member-a...ets-50-mpg.jpgI have trouble linking my own work. If this succeeds, it's the genesis of the concept from 2008
https://ecomodder.com/forum/member-a...ed-micro-r.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The first iteration:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've no idea where the third trailer, for the T-100 pickup is.

The Polydrops offering has two wheels and a ball hitch. Not integrated into the overall form, it's 'drafting' the tow vehicle.

I think it's a copy of the Cybertruck with a radiused top edge. Front chamfers and all.

It's not going to increase range.
A trailer that increases range would be something like my go-kart based leaf pusher concept.

'not going to'
 

Conceptually, the science is rock solid.
Whether or not the Ioniq-5/ Polydrop combination can deliver the claimed performance is not something I can verify.
I'm pleased enough if it simply precipitates a conversation.

When I tow my flat bed 4x8 utility trailer behind my leaf I get about a 20% range hit. That thing looks like my trailer, with enormous tires that service no purpose what so ever and also has home appliances strapped to it.
I also believe I read somewhere that the ionic range was rated using a realistic highway speed of 70mph.
So driving the car at 70mph vs towing at 55mph and saying the trailer increases range is complete bs in the case of the ionic.

The ecomoder boat tail trailers likely work as far as increasing range or rule economy.
But they don't seem to be very usable as a trailer

range
 

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.
If the aerodynamic drag reduction overshadows the increase in rolling resistance, the Road Load will be reduced, the total power along with it, for an overall savings.
Adding over 700-pounds to the T-100, I can get the same mpg, as solo.
There's no reason the trailer couldn't weigh 200-pounds.
I should be able to see 40-mpg at 65-mph with the new trailer. 140-mpg-e if an EV Truck.

In any case, it's an improvement over the slab-sided fastback teardrop for usability. The front edge chamfers should help the aero.

I'm going to call it right now, they are full of it and that article is nothing but click bait.
I'll believe it when I see it.

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.