iMiEV owners and aeromods

[Daox]

Yeah, I can totally deal with the funky look. But, I REALLY wish they would have put more thought into the aero... .35 cd? cmon! The 2014+ Mirage is much better looking (IMO), has a .28 cd, and 6.15 cda. The iMiEV has a 8.1 cda, ouch.

[Ecky]

My guess is that it was never intended to do much highway driving, given its range. If you're staying under 45, Cd isn't as much of a concern.

This would be a great car for driving around cities like Orlando, which have no mass transit to speak of and abundant parking, and everything is within 30 miles.

[Daox]

Yeah, I realize that. I just see the Mirage with 25% less aero drag. That will give you up to 10-15 more miles of range at higher speeds. Thats a pretty huge increase for a little more body work.

[NeilBlanchard]

Aero drag is a big deal at any speed above ~28-30MPH; at which it becomes 50% plus of the load on the drivetrain.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by Daox

Yeah, I realize that. I just see the Mirage with 25% less aero drag. That will give you up to 10-15 more miles of range at higher speeds. Thats a pretty huge increase for a little more body work.

Seems like a bit of rear elongation would bring the Cd into MIRAGE territory.A bit more and it would eclipse it.
As she sits,she's lower than the surviving Kamm car (Cd 0.37)

I feel like some rear overhang would really ease the kW-h load.

[mikeyjd]

Originally Posted by Daox

Yeah, I can totally deal with the funky look. But, I REALLY wish they would have put more thought into the aero... .35 cd? cmon! The 2014+ Mirage is much better looking (IMO), has a .28 cd, and 6.15 cda. The iMiEV has a 8.1 cda, ouch.

It would be awesome to see a boat tailed iMiEV!

[aerohead]

Yeah,and maybe an active,'extensible' tail like Kamm/Fachsenfeld encouraged in the mid-1930s.
Parking would be a cinch.

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The other thing,would be like BamZipPow has done.
An integrated 1-wheeler could increase hwy range due to the superior aerodynamics,and then carrying a second battery pack in the trailer could conceivably more than double the range.
180-mile range in a non-Tesla would be interesting.

[jasantal]

You have to keep in mind that Cd tells you nothing without frontal area. A big truck can have reasonable good Cd. Actual drag is Cd x frontal area. A truck won't have good aero because it will have a huge frontal area. Cd is just a multiplier. Something really tiny could have a bad Cd, but still great aero.

[freebeard]

I think it's down to the fineness ratio.

...to be blunt.

[aerohead]