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

Prius Prime frontal area

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by Lee Jay, May 20, 2017.

  1. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2009
    5,850
    4,018
    0
    Location:
    Westminster, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Anyone (this means you, Bob) want to try to compute the frontal area of the Prime? I'm going to do so and wouldn't mind a few cross-checks.

    The ruler is 36" end-to-end near as I can measure. Heat distortion from the ground is going to make this a little challenging but we should be able to get close. Approximate distance is 215 feet, approximate equivalent focal length based on horizontal field of view is 1,400mm so this should have very little perspective distortion.

    HERE.
     
    #1 Lee Jay, May 20, 2017
  2. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2009
    5,850
    4,018
    0
    Location:
    Westminster, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Okay, I got 2.14m^2,
     
    #2 Lee Jay, May 20, 2017
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,693
    48,945
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    are you thinking of adding a nose cone?
     
    #3 bisco, May 20, 2017
  4. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2009
    5,850
    4,018
    0
    Location:
    Westminster, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Aerodynamic drag force = 1/2 * rho * A * Cd * V^2.

    We can compute rho from a local weather station (rho = P / R*T where R is 287.15, P is pressure in Pascals and T is absolute temperature).
    Cd is provided by Toyota.
    We can measure Velocity (V) in m/s.
    What we don't have is A - cross sectional area.

    Well, now we do.
     
    #4 Lee Jay, May 20, 2017
  5. Prime Example

    Prime Example Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2017
    58
    99
    0
    Location:
    Shenandoah Valley
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    Wow, I didn't realize "full frontal" was even allowed on this site.
     
    #5 Prime Example, May 20, 2017
    hayden55 likes this.
  6. JamesBurke

    JamesBurke Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2009
    1,222
    493
    27
    Location:
    Morgantown, WV
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    As long as the grill shutter is closed...

    Roof line to lower edge of front thing I can't remember what to call plus side mirrors and tires frontal area?

    Need an anemometer on a stick off the front unicorn style for the SAE rolldown test,
     
    #6 JamesBurke, May 20, 2017
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)