Interesting Aerodynamic Cars (Mike Vetter's ETV, also Avion)

[user removed]

It would be interesting to see what the bottom looks like.

regards
Mech

[NeilBlanchard]

From the only photograph of the rear it looks to be a smooth slope up -- you can connect the line of the bottom ahead of the rear wheels to the rear fascia.

If the windshield is moved forward, the seats might also be moved forward? I agree that having limited sight lines really hampers good real world driving. Maybe it could even work to have the driver in the center forward, and then have two flanking passenger seats 2' back or so?

I hope more information is forthcoming. Even better, some tuft test photos or video...

[jime57]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

If the windshield is moved forward, the seats might also be moved forward? I agree that having limited sight lines really hampers good real world driving.

This thing is just a university project. Nowhere remotely close to a "real world" vehicle. It is built strictly to achieve low Cd in a straight line. The very skinny tires clearly show that to be the goal. We few here may love the shape, but even the Insight 1 with much more conventional shape couldn't make any significant market headway. It will eventually go the way of the Schlor Wagen and the Aptera.

It didn't say it wasn't interesting though

I do agree that moving the driver forward and producing a blunter nose would have been a slightly better approach for them. They could have gotten close to our ideal template, clean slate that they had. I wonder what they know that we don't

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Also, I'm wondering if having a small slightly protruding "nose" has a benefit?

Sorry, I don't do Photoshop, but I tried.

Automobile 2 - Odds and Ends pictures by kach22i - Photobucket

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Okay, here is just about the lowest drag car that I know of -- Cd is 0.14
Awesome!

@ 0.14 I doubt it'd be improved by armchair aerodynamicists like us

It looks like there is a sharp ridge where the air can detach at the rear, straight down between the squatted chap's elbow and the sleeve of his shirt.

[NeilBlanchard]

I'd love to see a tuft test photo or two. Does anybody live close to where they will be showing the car in the southern US? It would be great to see this car in person.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by euromodder

It looks like there is a sharp ridge where the air can detach at the rear, straight down between the squatted chap's elbow and the sleeve of his shirt.

The logos and text follow a contour line. This may be one of several steps or plane changes.

I'd like to run my hands over the rear haunch of this car.

Noted is the rear edge spoiler, had to zoom in to see it. Missed it in my first set of notes - oops.

Automobile 2 - Odds and Ends pictures by kach22i - Photobucket

[Cd]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

It would be interesting to see what the bottom looks like.

regards
Mech

And yes, there is a crease line at the rear flanks. Regardless, i agree with you guys that the angles are really steep there.



It has plenty of headroom, lots of interior space, and real doors on both sides of the car . ( note the camera mirrors )

[Cd]

Amazing car ! ( The SolarWorld GT )

"The car is decked out with solar panels made of crystalline silicon. While 31 miles per hour is the GT’s most efficient speed, it can cruise at a maximum 70 mph, a rate the creators jokingly admitted to driving close to when trying to reach UCSB in time for the event. Without sunlight, the GT can run for about 240 miles. With sunlight, it can go as far as it wants."

The Santa Barbara Independent Solar-Powered Car Looks to Bust Guinness World Record

[aerohead]

I like the car very much! And it IS a race car,so it's been optimized for the race course(s).
It looks very stable.It looks like Australian land trains won't blow it off the road or flip it over,as has happened with some solar cars.
The integration of the windshield into the body is as good as I've seen,and this car,like the Arivett Bros. streamlined dragster,may actually have a lower Cd than 0.14 when in a crosswind.The bulbous nose beats everything in a crosswind,and since we rarely have days without wind,designing for yawed flow is smart engineering.If that's the case.
Since there are no photos in true-length,it's hard to 'see' what's been done.And without X-Ray vision its hard to know the strategy behind why it was done the way it is.
These teams will provide the driver with weather data,having them outrun storms when necessary,take advantage of wind conditions when they avail themselves,and maximize battery management,solar charging,etc..
Winning will take more than just the car.
Changing flat tires can make or break a race.
I'd like to see if the batteries are in those thick wheel fairing sections,attempting to get the C.G.as low as possible.