3 ms·

I watched a video about EVs and it mentioned aerodynamics. It compared a new EV to a Tesla the EV discussed had a drag coefficient of 0.2 the Tesla was 0.2008.

• bagels 5y ago
  Drag force is proportional to the drag coefficient. Power is proportional to force. That tiny fractional difference doesn't seem like it could account for a 50km range difference all else equal.
  • whazor 5y ago
    Typo from poster, Tesla model S should be 0.208. Also there should be the double effect, once you improve efficiency with a small step then you get to reduce the battery size which gives less weight and more range. I am looking forward to hyper efficient electric cars, currently most EVs are enormous. With efficient in-wheel motors, good aerodynamics, and very low weight will result in a much smaller battery and therefore a cheaper car. Solar cars like Lightyear One use these principles in order to become viable.
    • dotancohen 5y ago
      > Also there should be the double effect, once you improve efficiency with a small > step then you get to reduce the battery size which gives less weight and more range. Also known at the tyranny of the rocket equation. Which brings the discussion about the Tesla vehicle full circle, as that company is closely associated with (and actually shares a material engineering lab with) an extraordinarily innovative rocket company.
    • bagels 5y ago
      Even at the 0.208 vs 0.2 cd all else equal, a 50km difference implies a range of 1,300km, which the Tesla does not have.