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Aerodynamic efficiency can reduce fuel (energy) use and envi

examiner.com -- The attraction for many of hybrid vehicles is higher fuel efficiency. High fuel efficiency means making the same travel with less energy expended.

In general efficiency is recognized as one of the ways to reduce the environmental impact made by our society. A 50 miles/gallon car on a 200 mile trip burns 4 gallons of gas while a 25 miles/gallon car requires 8 gallons of gas for the same trip. That effect of fuel efficiency means half the cost, half the harmful emissions, and half the oil used, to take the same trip.

According to fueleconomy.gov: "On the EPA highway cycle with an average speed of 48 mph, 54% of the energy required to move a car goes to aerodynamic drag. Because drag increases with the square of speed, more than twice as much energy would be required to overcome

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Submitted Mar 11, 2010 By: teafortwo

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swlincdrv Veteran Author Lincoln Posts:375 Points:219,115 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:33:16 PM Ignore swlincdrv Report Abuse Thanks captain obvious.
judgemobile Champion Author Ohio Posts:2,761 Points:1,489,010 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:30:21 PM Ignore judgemobile Report Abuse Tell Mr Toyoda--simple safety items apparently escaped him.
JohnLev Champion Author Orange County Posts:5,857 Points:767,980 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:21:46 PM Ignore JohnLev Report Abuse "Because drag increases with the square of speed, more than twice as much energy would be required to overcome drag at 70 mph." I am an aerospace engineer and this statement is false. The aerodynamic drag increases by the CUBE of speed (velocity). So doing the math, going from 48 mph to 70 mph is about a 45% increase in speed and about 3 times the aerodynamic drag. However, aerodynamic drag is not the only force that has to be overcome; there is also rolling friction in the tires, friction in the axle and engine. These forces at lower speeds are greater than the aerodynamic force but don't increase as quickly.
TBRR Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:1,328 Points:234,070 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:20:27 PM Ignore TBRR Report Abuse driving at 55 mph will get you many more miles per tank full than at 75 which uses about 45% more fuel. you will get where you are going about the same time with less ware and tear on you vehicle. just don't do it in the left lane, be smart and stay in the right lane and see how many times you have to hit the brakes.
Lukus Champion Author Halifax Posts:3,504 Points:712,265 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:15:17 PM Ignore Lukus Report Abuse Newer Hybrids will be better but with Solar they could be even better.
DosEquis26 Champion Author Chicago Posts:1,942 Points:1,092,060 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:06:04 PM Ignore DosEquis26 Report Abuse I can't drive 55! Sing it!
AtascaderoHound All-Star Author California Posts:557 Points:588,690 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:03:29 PM Ignore AtascaderoHound Report Abuse I have found simply reducing my average highway speed has dramatically increase fuel efficiency. Maybe I'll have to look at drag coefficient during my next car purchase cycle.
beachbumCA Champion Author Riverside Posts:4,069 Points:767,500 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:56:14 PM Ignore beachbumCA Report Abuse But, the real question is, will we drive more miles when we have fuel efficiency. I think the real world answer is yes.
FordF2502001 Champion Author Mississippi Posts:3,072 Points:667,150 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:50:56 PM Ignore FordF2502001 Report Abuse If people wanted aero that would be a different story
fordmexico Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,161 Points:181,425 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:48:20 PM Ignore fordmexico Report Abuse Car makers have been at this for a while. Knowledge was gained not only in the wind tunnel but also at the track with NASCAR. When you look at the front of a car you will see a front air dam on most vehicles. This was added to make the vehicle more "slippery" as well as to add to the styling. Under vehicle airflow has also been studied in an attempt to make the vehicle more aerodynamically efficient. Combine this with "eco-tuned" engine controls, clean diesels or gas hybrids and you have the elements of better fuel economy.
Bubba44612 Champion Author Ohio Posts:2,666 Points:916,975 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:46:38 PM Ignore Bubba44612 Report Abuse Lets get them for sale and we can all reap the rewards of better MPG's.
zdn Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,214 Points:317,105 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:43:50 PM Ignore zdn Report Abuse amazing math skills
comprof Champion Author Houston Posts:1,784 Points:390,325 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:42:42 PM Ignore comprof Report Abuse Very informative article. Good Post!!
plebe2001de Champion Author Delaware Posts:1,072 Points:220,640 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:40:46 PM Ignore plebe2001de Report Abuse That's not new!
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:3,591 Points:797,340 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:38:13 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse save save save
hwnguy Champion Author Honolulu Posts:2,981 Points:646,905 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:36:50 PM Ignore hwnguy Report Abuse Anything to save energy
ILANGE9 Champion Author Illinois Posts:2,534 Points:623,505 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:34:07 PM Ignore ILANGE9 Report Abuse I have a Honda Civic Hybrid and its pretty areo. Didn't realize how severe drag was on a vehicle.
packards42 Champion Author Washington Posts:1,668 Points:304,330 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:33:49 PM Ignore packards42 Report Abuse Sound reasonable check our a corvette coefficient. As i rcal in either at.2 or below it.
fltdoc Champion Author Oklahoma Posts:3,475 Points:604,940 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:30:23 PM Ignore fltdoc Report Abuse Good physics lesson
MidNJ Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,649 Points:251,650 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:29:23 PM Ignore MidNJ Report Abuse Seems futuristic.
danreino Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,796 Points:677,145 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:27:46 PM Ignore danreino Report Abuse Wasn't Saturn the first car company to really start boasting about this ?