Wind tunnel images of GM EV1 (Impact) and Sunraycer solar car
 

This week I posted a thread about a YouTube video about/by Aerovironment that showcased the company's accomplishments and explained their philosophy.

There were a few seconds of footage of the GM Impact (EV1 prototype) and Sunraycer in the wind tunnel.

I captured a few frames. Not great, but still interesting ...

From approx. 3:15

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1238190722

From approx. 4:00

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1238190644

Thanks for posting !
Very interesting.

I just wish that they had placed some tufts on the car so we could see the direction of the flow. ( especially around the rear glass on the Impact.)

I recently visited the GM Heritage Center for a meeting (I work for GM) and took some additional photos of the impact, as well as a few of the other cars they had on display. They did not have an EV1 out, they rotate the cars because apparently they have 3x as many cars as they can display at any given time.

Same cd as the ev1, but SOOOOO much cooler looking in front IMO.

Sunraycer boundary layer
 

In the second photo from the top we see Dr. Paul MacCready using a Pitot tube as a stethoscope to listen to the boundary layer to ascertain whether it was laminar or turbulent.
AeroVironment,clever guys!
The Sunraycer has been reported between Cd 0.089 (with full wheel fairings),0.125 (as raced ),and recently down-graded to Cd 0.145 (at the GM Aero Lab website).

Ultralite
 

Yeah,she's a sweety!
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ad2/06-138.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ad2/06-137.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...d2/06-1316.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...d2/06-1320.jpg
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...d2/06-1323.jpg

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...p;d=1403983585

Look! Turbines in the front to recharge the batteries while driving! :)

The faster you go, the further you can drive on a charge!

Big Oil made them take that feature out of the production EV1.

Big Oil sure plays in some little ponds ~ yuk yuk

Secret tech like that fan system rarely makes it into the public domain :snail: