EV-1 aero question
 

Why did the electric EV-1 Impact have and air intake at its nose?

What cooling requirement would necessitate this?

Otto -

I watched the "Who Killed The Electric Car" documentary last night. I think the concept had ducts, but the real EV-1 did not. Here's a pretty one :

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...rieshybrid.jpg

Maybe the concept had a real engine while waiting for the electric drivetrain?!?!? Maybe they were worried about battery cooling?!?!?!?!

CarloSW2

I can't help thinking the aerodynamics would have been ever better if they had not made the nose concave, but rather convex in a smooth line, like the leading edge of an airfoil.

The way it is, much of the stagnant air either collects at the nose or is shed laterally to the sides, which is a longer and draggier path than just going up over the nose.

EV-1 aero
 

The Impact development car had an opening for a ram-air, air-conditioning condenser, with two electric fans.Obviously it was dropped from the production EV-1/2.They may have gone to a bottom-breather scoop,as on the Camaro/Firebird/Corvette,etc..I looked under the one I drove in '96,however my mind is a complete blank.Sorry! As to the front fascia,sure it could have been of lower drag,as the drag of the whole car could have been almost halved.