Gas Pods - Anyone try them?

[kach22i]

They got some life out of that press release.

Lobster-Inspired GasPod Airfoils Could Give Cars a Fuel Efficiency Boost
http://inhabitat.com/lobster-inspire...ce_gaspods_01/

Bob Evans, an industrial designer and master RF mold maker has designed these unique GasPod airfoils to help drivers make their cars more aerodynamic, and thereby more fuel efficient. Reportedly inspired by the bumps on a lobsters back, the GasPods can be placed on specific points on a vehicle to reduce drag, offering an unusually simple way to reduce gas consumption.

[wmjinman]

Originally Posted by kach22i

They got some life out of that press release.

Lobster-Inspired GasPod Airfoils Could Give Cars a Fuel Efficiency Boost

Wow, lobsters - who would have thought!?! The ultimate model for efficient aerodynamics.

But maybe a creature that lives in the air would be more suitable to study. How about scorpions? Similar shape to lobsters & maybe move just as fast? Imagine a world where we could all have cars as aerodynamically efficient as lobsters, or eventually scorpions!! SCORPION PODS!!!!

[ChazInMT]

Maybe they just want to Eat lobster more often so they were inspired to come up with a gimmick to get peoples money. Anyone wonder why there isn't a multi-million dollar market for these? Prolly cause they don't work, cause if they did, they'd be everywhere. Derp.

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by wmjinman

But maybe a creature that lives in the air would be more suitable to study. How about scorpions? Similar shape to lobsters & maybe move just as fast? Imagine a world where we could all have cars as aerodynamically efficient as lobsters, or eventually scorpions!! SCORPION PODS!!!!

Observe closely how the shoulder blades and hip bones allow the cheetah to slice cleanly through the air:

[justme1969]

Originally Posted by euromodder

At 80 to 125 USD + P&P for a mere 9 gaspods , I'm not going to join your test fleet

With you claiming they are not VGs, I'll pass completely.
For if they don't generate vortexes, I really don't see what they'd do ...

But VGs DO work.

I have glider dimple tape on the mirrors, A-pillar and top of the windscreen.
Car is noticeably quieter now - the V50 range is known for wind noise around the A-pillar.
The effect on fuel consumption is not measurable though - i.e. I simply can't single it out.

The dimple tape didn't do $h!t on the rear end though - so I removed it.
The dimple tape is too shallow (about 1/16th to 1/12th of an inch) compared to the boundary layer.

The gaspods look the right size to effect the boundary layer at the rear end - if they do something like causing vortexes ...


Variability in day-to-day driving is simply too great to test the effectiveness of your products. Wether it's over 2000 or 20000 miles.

I will bet they work exactly as described herein. Diffusers basically whip the compressed air into the boundry layer air. I like that someone indicated boundry air here.
A proper down turned and vented spoiler just below roofline on back window would have done a better job but probbably wouldnt have gotten as much attn. But who am I to say, as I wasnt in thier wind tunnel testing dept.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by justme1969

But who am I to say, as I wasnt in thier wind tunnel testing dept.

Did they pony up for any?

Time can get rather expensive, at least at full scale, right?

[cyclopathic]

Santa Barbara-Based Gas Pods Company Aims to Save Drivers Money, Carbon Emissions

Drivers hoping to save some money on gas — and maybe the environment, while they’re at it — are the targets of a Santa Barbara startup.

Streamlined GasPods by AeroHance are exterior accessories that can be placed on vehicles to enhance airflow and efficiency through aerodynamics, reducing fuel consumption for most ideal users by at least 5 percent, founders say.

To visual 5 percent, picture a 10-by-10-foot prison cell full of carbon emissions, said Susanne Chess, co-founder of the GasPods project.

Vortex Generators placed on roof to save at least 5%??

[oil pan 4]

If the VGs were placed by a professional with some wind tunnel testing I guarantee they could save at least 5%.

VGs by their nature increase drag by energizing the boundary layer.
The only way to effectively apply them for the reason of lowering over all vehicle drag is with some sort of wind tunnel testing.
Or if you knew a aerospace engineer or physicist specializing in wind tunnel studies could guide you where to place them.
A laymen just placing VGs where they think the VGs should go (per the web sites instruction) is a fail.

For example, when applied to aircraft VGs typically reduce top speed slightly but decrease take off distances, lower takeoff speeds and lower stall speeds because they get the air to "cling" to lifting surfaces at lower speeds.
In most applications slower stall speed, shorter takeoffs and slower takeoff speeds are more desirable than absolute top speed.

[barbierij]

can these be put all over the car?

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by barbierij

can these be put all over the car?

Yeah, but it would increase drag.