Thoughts on UP’s efficiency upgrades?

[e-FTW]

https://electrek.co/2019/03/13/tesla-model-3-mods-drag-efficiency-range-unplugged-performance/

They did some CFD work and are throwing out some pretty impressive numbers. The full Monty would include a new stick-on front splitter, suspension drop (1.5”) and a new low drag rear wing.

Unplugged Performance’s white paper: Independent Aerodynamic Study of Tesla Model 3 by Unplugged Performance

 

[kbecks13]

Lowering a car will definitely improve efficiency, but with trade-offs for hitting things/scraping. Rear spoilers can definitely improve efficiency by reducing/redirecting the low pressure zone directly behind the car as well.

 

[thelastdeadmouse]

I'd like to see some real world testing results before I bite. The lowering springs probably won't work for my driveway, but the lid spoiler looks relatively modest. If that and the rear spoiler can really add up to a nearly 13% drag reduction that could be 30 highway miles on a LR car. At $1,400 it'd be a lot cheaper than 10% more battery and a heck of a lot lighter. My concern is that their CFD might be a little generous. I'd love to see two otherwise identical Model 3s drive side by side for a few miles and see the rates of consumption.

 

[ewoodrick]

While there looks like a lot of decent scientific research going on, it's only speculation. And there also can be some unanticipated side effects with modifying the airflow. An example of this is the replacement of light bulbs in traffic lights with LED. Better light, less changing bulbs, and lower energy cost. Everything is great isn't it. Well, in winter, it seems that snow started building on the lights and obscuring the light, which had never occurred before. Cause? The old inefficient bulbs generated enough heat to keep the light warm and melt the snow. Solution was to add a thermostatically controlled heat strip to do the same thing.

Is the additional range that important? Are you doing other things, like larger wheels, removing aero covers, that is already decreasing range?

A little more real world testing would be nice.

 

[MagnusMako]

They should also make a rear diffuser like Saleen did for the model S.

 

[kbecks13]

They should also make a rear diffuser like Saleen did for the model S.

Oh, it exists

 

[MagnusMako]

Er, well carbon fiber is more what I meant.

 

[kbecks13]

Er, well carbon fiber is more what I meant.

So did I, they have plans to essentially make a full carbon car eventually (if you want to go that way). Check out their sister company Bulletproof Automotive to see some work they've done on GT-Rs (which are super similar Model 3 if you think about it...both are ~4000 pounds, AWD and lots of power!)

Also see the S-Apex they made: https://electrek.co/2018/10/30/unplugged-performance-tesla-model-s-p100d-s-apex-modified/

 

[chrislayy]

Exciting to see companies focus on efficiency. I wonder how significant wider wheels affect drag.

 

[e-FTW]

GT-Rs (which are super similar Model 3 if you think about it...both are ~4000 pounds, AWD and lots of power!)

Funny you should say that: I saw a GT-R today, and thought to myself: “Hey, I used to dream of that car, and now I drive a car with extremely similar specs to the 2007-2011 Godzilla. Neat!”
With much less risk of grenading a transmission... ;-)

 

[e-FTW]

Exciting to see companies focus on efficiency. I wonder how significant wider wheels affect drag.

Or taken another way: I wonder how this helps offset wider wheels. Cake and eat it...

 

[Daniel in SD]

Extremely skeptical I don’t believe that Tesla would leave that much on the table (except for the lower ride height).
It would be interesting to see what could be done with wheelwell covers and a rear cone (extra cargo space!).