Boat Tail Mod shows 15% measured improvement!

Just a couple days back - there was a recent story: DIY ‘Boat Tail’ Gives Little Car Big Fuel Economy - By Chuck Squatriglia, Autopia, about Darin Cosgrove, an aquaintances Geo Metro Aero Mod package!

His Car - a Pontiac firefly - Like the same one I am using for my Electricfly, but newer, has had simple but practacal testing done - and recorded by Video camera and Tuft Testing to measure flow and turbulence, as well as multiple driving runs to test with mods on and off, to verify the differences, has shown at least a 15% improvement on an already very fuel efficient vehicle.

He Says - “I’ve driven with the tail on for about 300 km in total, mostly at highway speeds up to 100 km/h,” Cosgrove told us. “I didn’t notice any change in handling. The only effect on driving is I have to watch out for rubberneckers in other cars. Seriously.”

The Article mentions "The tail joins the rear wheel skirts, bellypan and other mods he’s made to boost aerodynamic efficiency. The result isn’t much to look at, but it boosted Cosgrove’s fuel efficiency by 15.1 percent at 90 km/hr (56 mph)."

These are all elements to show - that - a vehicle which usually gets below 5 Litre per 100 km, and is now getting below 4 litres per 100 km range - means that's now about one less trip needed to go to the gas station each month or so, so there is a time saving portion to the result as well as a money saving part!

Follow the story to see the Video he posted at the end.

Just think - what would you save if you cleaned up the bottom and rear of your vehicle? Also - if it's done right - you gain a large rear end cruple zone to protect your self and your fellow occupants!

Merry Christmas to you all!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and may your feet not freeze over the winter, and your nose not be red from Alcohol while driving!

Please take a moment to Enjoy a good Christmas Song and share it with others!

Are you staying home this Christmas - or Traveling to Visit Family, Friends? If your Traveling - Safe Journey and return Home Safe, and all the better for the relationship in your life!

We are going out to a Christmas Dinner at one of our Favourite Restaurants in Richmond Hill this time! (No cooking, no dishes, no leftovers! More time to try our hand at some candy and special baking projects we want to do!)

the AeroCaps project is on a bit of a hold with the cold weather an no shop, but it is still generating interest - I can tell by the web traffic!

A Special thank you to my new visitors. Please book mark the site and stop in once a month or so - more often in warmer weather! Feel free to let me know what you would like to see more - in the comments you leave!

Merry Christmas to you all and may the winds of change treat you well in the coming new year!

Boat tail reduces truck fuel consumption by 7.5 percent

On November 5, 2009, Darren Quick put up this post in Gizmag, about how a Boat Tail on a truck saves fuel. Even though it was not smooth and graceful, but rather slab sided and boxy - it still turned in "fuel savings of 7.5 percent".

He goes on to say - "The fuel savings, which also means a cut in emissions, were realized by the boat tail dramatically reducing the drag caused by the lower-pressure effect that occurs in the wake of a vehicle." The key thing is the trailing edge or tail end of the vehicle, is the moree critical aspace for airflow control, and wake managment.

He Shows that these were not just one-off, random tests, but long running hard comparisons, averaged out over time - with various changes to the Boat Tail length: "The lorry was driven for a period of one year with a boat tail of varying lengths and one year without a boat tail. The improved aerodynamics were dependent on the length of the boat tail, with the optimum length found to be two meters (6.5-feet)."

In his story, he also points out the many other aero-structures that Trucks have added to them today to save on fuel: "Trucks already sport a range of modifications designed to improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle, such as side panels, aerodynamic mudguards and mirrors, and roof deflectors. Of these only side panels are more effective at cutting fuel consumption (9 percent) so it’s hard to imagine we won’t be seeing trucks on the roads with a little extra junk on their trunks in the near future."

However - there are a few things I have discovered by attending a presentation at the University of Toronto, on Vehicle Aerodynamics - putting small vortex generators on those cab side panels causes the air to spin up and tighten up the air flow over the gap between cab and trailer that still exists, and cuts the interference drag at this area caused by air trying to escape from between the trailer and the cab, making a new wall of air, so the air stays attached - from cab to trailer.

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VW Shows 189mpg L1 diesel/electric hybrid at Frankfurt

15-9-2009: The Frankfurt Motor Show marks the debut of the Volkswagen L1 Concept – a diesel-electric hybrid vehicle constructed from aluminium and carbon fibre weighing just 380 kg and capable of returning 189 mpg on the combined cycle while emitting just 39 g/km of CO2.

The L1 can seat two occupants in tandem. They enter through a side-hinging, electrically operated canopy to maximise the aerodynamic efficiency of the L1 Concept. The result is a remarkable co-efficient of drag figure of just 0.195.

Not only is the body extremely aerodynamic but it’s also very light and strong. The safety cell, constructed from carbon fibre reinforced plastic, weighs just 124 kg. At 3,813 mm in length, the L1 Concept is comparable to the Fox yet at just 1,143 mm in height it’s as low as a Lamborghini Murcielago. Its width, at just 1,200 mm, is narrower than any conventional car on sale today

The driving environment shares more in common with an aircraft than a car. The adjustable front seat is thin and constructed from carbon while the rear passenger sits in a fixed seat built into the monocoque. Continue reading at the Original Post

This is an excellent example of combining aerodynamic efficiency with energy efficient drive trains to yield incredible total gains. In the overall plan for the 2008 Dodge Dakota, beyond the AeroCap there are plans for other more interesting aerodynamic additions, improvements, and more. There are also plans for hybridising it with an Electric torque assist system, designed specifically for front-engine, rear-drive vehicles with Drive-shafts. Some of the experience with my electricfly will serve to help me in my plans for the energy storage system of the Hybridizing elements.