1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

better coefficient of drag

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Fuel Economy' started by dissident, Apr 18, 2014.

  1. dissident

    dissident Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2012
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Brookings, SD
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    In theory they could improve the gas mileage by making further improvements in the coefficient of drag, such as incorporating a more 'boat tail' like design as evidenced by the 'aero civic' that someone made... given the target audience for this vehicle I think it would sell well, and would also allow higher mileages at higher speeds.

    Here's a list of the coeffient of drag of all vehicles.

    (Google this, thread cannot contain links)

    Aero Civic Website

    (Google this, thread cannot contain links)

    Only a few concept cars such as the defunct General Motors EV1 have had the guts to truly decrease coefficient of drag with rather unconventional designs. I believe the EV1 body with a gasoline or hybrid engine would be my next vehicle purchase. :) I'd sacrifice some looks to get maximum MPG.. though I think the EV1 looks good personally.
     
  2. MarcSmith

    MarcSmith Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2014
    471
    150
    0
    Location:
    Northern VA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    heck even simple rear wheel skirts would help...
     
  3. walter Lee

    walter Lee Hypermiling Padawan

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2009
    1,126
    376
    5
    Location:
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    GreenJuice and Robert Holt like this.
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    how low can you go?
     
  5. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2011
    3,318
    1,103
    0
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    LOL, makes me think of cars on back ends leaning back and down just to get under that rod... "THE LIMBO"!
     
  6. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
  7. Robert Holt

    Robert Holt Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2013
    1,313
    888
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    The electronic rear view side mirrors were interesting. Any aftermarket kits out for that,which could be adapted to the Prius?
     
  8. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
  9. 70AARCUDA

    70AARCUDA Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2014
    845
    209
    0
    Location:
    Tucson, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    ...and, FULL 'smooth' -- Moon™-like -- wheel covers would be a "simple/cheap" aerodynamic "improvement"!
     
    engerysaver likes this.
  10. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2013
    1,534
    581
    0
    Location:
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    There is a gap between the top of the windshield and the roof. I might put a strip of electrical tape over it to see if it makes any difference.

    Too bad Toyota didn't hide the windshield wipers.

    Personally I think grill blocking is BS, but if there is an improvement in cd then there should be automated louvers there.
     
  11. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    MikeDee I think you would design a Tesla competitor, not a Corolla competitor.

    Grill blocking works in weather under 60 Degrees to retain engine heat. I am not aware that anyone has tested the idea for aerodynamics.

    I do not advise this, but the only Aero modification I know works is that many states do not require a right side mirror. Ideally the NHTSA will overcome inertia and allow side view cameras. I want them near the front of the car to limit blind spots.

    [​IMG]
    Like this but with cameras.
     
    usnavystgc likes this.
  12. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2011
    3,159
    988
    0
    Location:
    Tucson, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I love the side view cameras and I've been wanting to do it for years but, our cumbersome beaureaucratical system is so slow. And when your idea is deemed "not important", its even slower.
     
  13. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    The NS4 has camera mirrors.

    [​IMG]
     
  14. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    And where is that street legal?
     
  15. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    It's in reply to the VW XL1 having rear view cameras.
     
  16. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    And it is also not street legal in the US.
     
  17. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Yet. It's not just Elon Musk petitioning the NHTSA to change the rules.
     
  18. Vman455

    Vman455 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2014
    534
    551
    13
    Location:
    The Middle
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Laws on required mirrors vary state to state. Where I live, only the center interior mirror is required, so I have removed both exterior mirrors and mounted convex blind spot mirrors on the A-pillars inside the car.

    Grill blocking: you'll find plenty of people blocking grills on all sorts of cars for the aerodynamic benefit on Ecomodder. There have been several studies demonstrating the effectiveness of closing off unnecessary cooling air intake, most prominently by Volvo engineers who attributed 30% of the total drag of a typical car to the cooling system. I monitor temperatures with a Scangauge and have been up to 83F ambient temps so far with the lower grill 100% blocked on the highway, with no problems. If most of your driving is in town, I would advise keeping a close eye on engine coolant and inverter coolant temperatures.

    Here's my build thread on Ecomodder with everything I've done to the Prius, which so far parallels what I did to my previous car.
     
    usnavystgc and Robert Holt like this.
  19. HaroldW

    HaroldW Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2012
    716
    95
    0
    Location:
    Grand Forks BC Canada
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Have you noticed any fe. gains?:)h​
     
  20. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2013
    1,534
    581
    0
    Location:
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    The Eco Cruz and the Ford Focus have active grill louvers for aerodynamics. The reduction in cd for the Cruz Eco was 5.1% and .5 mpg highway.