The brainchild of Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc, the Tesla Model S is a five-door luxury sedan. The reduction of drag in road vehicles has led to increases in the top speed … The rear diffuser accelerates the air exited from underneath the car, so when it meets the air coming from the top of the car, it doesn’t create much turbulence. We're not sure about that, but we are sure the aerodynamic one-upping won't stop anytime soon. If done otherwise, the air would come to the sides of the wheel, where the rims will pick it up and create a massive drag. It would be convenient for this study to make an absolute statement about the Cd of the Tesla Model 3, however, there are many ways for a vehicle manufacturer to calculate Cd. Based on that function, we see that to get a low drag force, we need to reduce the drag coefficient and frontal area of the car. The drag coefficient or coefficient of drag is related to the car's aerodynamics as it denotes the resistance to the air of the front surface of the vehicle when it is in movement. With a coefficient of drag that's just 0.208, the updated Model S narrowly beats out the Lucid Air, but there's a catch or two. Tesla Range is reportedly 390 miles, undoubtedly enhanced by a very low drag co … You can create a downforce or lift by adding a spoiler on the back of your car. © 2021 CNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. “The vehicle’s total drag was reduced by 2.3% and the rear downforce was increased over baseline by 34.7%. Tesla also can't claim that the Model S is the most aerodynamic production car ever, either. A critical key to achieving that impressive number is excellent aerodynamics. The revised Model S Plaid has a drag coefficient of just .208, one of the lowest ever on a production car. Toyota Prius. Since the drag force is negated, efficiency also improves because the car will consume less fuel for the same distance. With a coefficient of drag that's just 0.208, the updated Model S narrowly beats out the Lucid Air, but there's a … As a result, the Model S is able to offer features such as a front trunk (a "frunk") in addition to a large rear trunk space and an enlarged front crumple zone compared to the typical combustion engine powered vehicle. Ford F-150 Lightning to Tesla Cybertruck: Electric truck roundup. The rearmost side of the car is slightly pointed upwards, like a mini-spoiler. As a car moves through the air, the car displaces air around it, resulting in a force exerted back to the car. Ultimately, this allows for higher speeds and improved power efficiency. The drag function is: p = Mass density of air (1.269 kg/m or 0.12 sq/ft). This results in a mere 77 pounds of drag force exerted on Tesla Model S. So, how do Tesla engineers manage to create a 0.24 drag coefficient? ρ = density of fluid (1.2 kg/m 3 for air at NTP) v = flow velocity (m/s) A = characteristic frontal area of the body (m 2) The drag coefficient is a function of several parameters like shape of the body, Reynolds Number for the flow, Froude number, Mach Number and Roughness of the Surface. It’s able to go 0-100 km/h (or 0-60m/h) in just 3.7 seconds on the base model, and an insanely quick 2.4 seconds on the performance model + ludicrous mode. This is a reason-able figure for a five-passenger wagon and only 30 percent The air will flow from the grille, the roof, to the back of the car, where it will create a negative pressure, which increases the drag and create lift. Drag coefficient has been touted as a big area of focus for Tesla’s vehicles. Those body changes are specially designed to help the aerodynamic of the car. Speaking of aerodynamics, Tesla is claiming the “lowest-drag car on Earth” with a drag coefficient of 0.208 Cd.. But buried in the deluge of info is a new superlative that Tesla is claiming: The updated Model S is the most aerodynamic production car in the world, with a drag coefficient of just 0.208. There's a lot of new stuff to talk about when it comes to the Tesla Model S, which today received its most major update since it was first unveiled in 2012. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. From the front, the grill is very minimalized. Since it’s an electric car, the lack of exhaust helps very much. If the pressure on the upper side is less than the lower side, it will create an upward force called lift. This reduced the total drag coefficient (Cd) by 0.005.” Independent Aerodynamic Study of Tesla Model 3 … That force exerted by the air is called drag. Tesla has also updated the overall shape by just a bit. The rear-view mirror has a teardrop shape to decrease the aerodynamic drag further. The Tesla Model S uses a streamlined body, a minimalist grille, aerodynamic mirrors, a hidden door handle, and rear diffusers to give it’s tear-drop shape such a low drag coefficient. Tesla Model S first arrived in 2012. A pressure difference between the air flowing on the bottom part of a car and the upper part of the car (the roof) creates force. The drag coefficient was determined using the frontal area of the Tesla Model S and relating to the size and shape of the Tesla Model 3, estimated at 23.69 square feet (2.2 m^2). Infiniti Q50: 0.26 Cd. For reference, Tesla’s most aerodynamic production car is the Tesla Model 3 with a Cd of 0.23 — Next-gen Tesla Roadster is expected to break all aerodynamics records for a production sports car, officially no drag coefficient for the 2020 Roadster is announced yet. Finally, the rear bumper also includes a diffuser in the bottom. Downforce makes the tire grip the road better. Drag coefficient. A new source with connections at Tesla’s design group has informed me that late stage tweaking of the Model 3 is being done with an eye towards extreme minimization of wind resistance. The mini-spoiler helps to disturb that flow, mitigating most of the negative pressure. It determines how the car handles, its fuel efficiency, and maximum speed. The door handle is cleverly tucked in within the body sides, allowing air to slide smoothly along the sides. Model S has an insanely powerful explosive power. While many engineers try to figure out the aerodynamic drag of the Tesla Cybertruck, Elon Musk believes a 0.30 coefficient is possible with extreme effort. The Model X SUV also received many of the same upgrades as the Model S, but with a 0.25 drag coefficient it already was the most aerodynamic SUV in the world. Moving slightly to the center, we have the wiper hidden underneath the slightly slanted hood, so the wind will not hit the wiper arm and create drag. The front face redirects most of the air to the top of the car to increase downforce, making the car handle better. Interestingly, only the Model S and Volt lived up to their official drag coefficient numbers, of 0.24 and 0.28 respectively. Tesla Model 3 Elon Musk's electric cars are already breaking the mold, but they're also some of the most aerodynamic cars on the road. With an official drag coefficient of 0.22, it bests the Tesla Model S by two whole points. When you’re going to buy an electric car, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? The topic of Cd (drag coefficient) is one of frequent controversy and misunderstanding. Rocking a 100KWh battery, Tesla Model S has a 335-mile range on its base version and 375-mile on the long-range version. In electric vehicles, the effect becomes more pronounced because power management is vital to its overall performance. Aerodynamics is an often-overlooked factor of a car. Aesthetically, the new Tesla Model S has a slightly cleaner exterior with optimized aerodynamics. Where the 2012 Model S came with a coefficient of 0.24, Musk aimed for a drag coefficient of 0.21 for the Model … https://enrg.io/explaining-the-tesla-model-s-drag-coefficient The Tesla Model S Plaid has a drag coefficient of 0.208, which is the lowest that you may have heard so far in the industry. The bottom of the car is completely covered. To demonstrate the importance of aerodynamics in an electric car, we’re going to take a look at one of the finest electric vehicles ever made: the Tesla Model S. Aerodynamics is essentially a set of interactions between air and moving objects. [better source needed] Tesla said it would have a 5-Star safety rating and have a drag coefficient of Cd=0.23. Tesla claims that the new Model S has the lowest drag coefficient on the planet (0.208 cd). This comes hot on the heels of the updated Tesla Model S … Com-bined with a 0.32 drag coefficient, that yields a 7.8-square-foot drag area. Reducing drag. It's mostly because of this that Tesla was able to obtain a drag coefficient of 0.23cd for the Model Y crossover, prompting Musk to say that its mass and aerodynamics only cause a drop of 8 … Now there are a couple of technicalities here. The rest of the air will flow sideways, and a tiny bit will flow to the bottom. Mercedes says the EQS achieves a 0.20 coefficient of drag, making it the world's most aerodynamic production car. Subscribe to Roadshow's newsletter for the latest car news and reviews, delivered to your inbox twice weekly. Ultimately, this allows for higher speeds and improved power efficiency. With Lucid Air deliveries set to commence in the next month or two, it could potentially still take and hang onto the aerodynamics crown, at least for a bit. The Model 3, when tested, clocked a 0.21 drag coefficient. The drag coefficient measures how much air and wind resistance the vehicle encounters when it’s driving, the model Y on this list has the lowest coefficient of drag at just 0.23. What's particularly interesting about the Q50 is that once you start getting high … (That would be the Porsche Taycan Turbo.) Tesla Model S Aerodynamics, 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid, Mercedes Plug-Ins: Today's Car News Introduction To Our Used 2001 Honda Insight Hybrid Tesla Model 3 To Aim For 0.20 Drag Coefficient: Report Tesla choice to keep the same shape as the previews version and only made small changes in terms of body shape. If the pressure is the other way around, it will create a downward force, called downforce. Drag Area= 7.8 ft2 The Leaf is the boxiest shape we wheeled into the wind tunnel, and it has this test’s second-largest frontal area at 24.5 square feet. By creating a better grip, you improve handling and cornering speed. Given the Plaid Plus model claims a 520-mile range, it's likely that one. Nevertheless, the Model S being the third most aerodynamic production car ever is still quite an impressive feat. Tesla doesn't say which specific Model S achieves that 0.208 figure, whether it's the Long Range or one of the Plaid models and if it's with the 19- or 21-inch wheels. In the world of green cars, the Toyota Prius is a legend. To illustrate the importance of aerodynamics, Ales estimates that by reducing the Model S drag figure from 0.32 to 0.24, Tesla managed to increase the range of the car by about 50 miles. People rarely mention “aerodynamics.” While it’s true that aerodynamics is not the absolute most important factor, it determines several important factors about the car in a very subtle way. It's got a completely new interior with a crazy steering wheel, lots of updated tech and a Plaid Plus model that promises over 520 miles of range. The lower the coefficient, the better aerodynamics the model has. Tesla Model 3 misses drag coefficient target Tweeted by Elon Musk back in April 2016. The General Motors EV1 and Volkswagen XL1 both boasted 0.19 drag coefficients, and the VW at the very least most definitely is considered a production car. This claim is yet to be confirmed. Tesla says first deliveries won't begin until March for the Long Range or the Plaid, while the Plaid Plus won't get to customers' hands until late 2021. The lower the drag, the faster the car can run. The drag coefficient number of Tesla Model S is 0.24. A car with good aerodynamics shapes how the air pushes the car in some ways that benefit the vehicle in terms of explosive power and fuel efficiency. Quite a huge amount of downforce actually, and reduction in drag. The drag coefficient or coefficient of drag is related to the car's aerodynamics as it denotes the resistance to the air of the front surface of the vehicle when it is in movement. The lower the coefficient, the better aerodynamics the model has. F d = drag force (N) c d = drag coefficient. They claim that, with a drag coefficient of 0.208, the Model S is now the most aerodynamic production car. Drag coefficient. It was the first mass-market … That number also nicely rounds up to 0.21 -- and that matches the Lucid Air's claimed figure. The interior has been simplified too and includes a redesigned second row boasting seating for three adults, with extra legroom, headroom and a stowable armrest with … Tesla reduced the original Roadster’s drag down to 0.31 in 2014 with a retrofit aero kit, but it will be interesting to see how a full redesign fares in terms of efficiency. It’s an $80.000 all-electric sedan. At the same time, its frontal area is 25.2 square feet (2012 Model S). The front bumper shape allows the wind to hit squarely on the front wheel. The S earns our top slot by virtue of its larger 25.2-square-foot face and lower 0.24 drag coefficient, which yield the same 6.2-square-foot drag area as the Prius. For comparison, the $4.700.000 Lamborghini Aventador can only do 0-100 km/h in 2.5 seconds. The Model S is notable for being designed from the ground up with an electric powertrain in mind, unlike other electric vehicles where the manufacturer has simply swapped out or supplanted an internal combustion engine with an electric motor. The Model S also hasn't technically entered production yet, so it's not exactly the most aerodynamic car you can currently buy. 700 HP Electric eCOPO Camaro Hits the Drag Strip (w/ Video), Elon Musk Admits: Tesla Model 3 Has a Brake Problem, THIS is the Tesla Model S Shooting Brake You Want, Tesla Model 3 Track Mode Unlocked - Sets Track Record, Can You Do Maintenance On Your Own Electric Vehicle, Which Electric Vehicles Come With Range Extender, How Much Does a Tesla Battery Replacement Cost. The result is an aero edge for the Air, which has a Cd (drag coefficient) of 0.21 compared to the Model S' reported 0.24. Tesla says the new Model S is the world's most aerodynamic production car. This is lower than the Tesla Model S drag coefficient of Cd=0.24, which, in 2014, was the lowest among the production cars of the time. So it’s smooth and flat, allowing the low-pressure air to flow smoothly along the bottom. Lucid hasn't given a specific drag coefficient that goes beyond the second decimal place, so its 0.21 claim could perhaps have been rounded up. Two factors govern the aerodynamics of a car: Pressure and Drag. After all the recent controversy surrounding the NHTSA and Tesla regarding its Media Control Unit and airbags , the company has finally managed to grab the headlines for good reasons, this time.