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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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Gas_Buzzer Champion Author South Carolina Posts:11,840 Points:2,163,670 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 12, 2010 3:45:31 AM Ignore Gas_Buzzer Report Abuse I am not attracted. Open up the wells and quit playing games!
TIGERPAW46 Champion Author Florida Posts:5,149 Points:963,855 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 11:11:17 PM Ignore TIGERPAW46 Report Abuse Nothing new here.
djtdi Champion Author San Jose Posts:2,829 Points:523,805 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:50:12 PM Ignore djtdi Report Abuse Now common folks have to learn aerodynamics. There may be benefits to it. We all will learn sciences like fluid dynamics,drag coefficients. Some good should come out of this mess we have gotten into. Industry leaders have been crying out for better math and science education in USA. They've been complaining about how US has fallen behind in homegrown Science and Engineering graduates. This economic mess we are in might force all of us to think and learn sciences,applied science and math in order to improve our personal economic well being.
CiVX Champion Author Oakland Posts:5,707 Points:1,011,975 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:34:20 PM Ignore CiVX Report Abuse Its time they did something.
greenfog Champion Author Illinois Posts:4,154 Points:1,174,690 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:25:40 PM Ignore greenfog Report Abuse they actually paid someone to write this article. i think grade school kids are taught the basics of this in their math classes.
EcoVore Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,533 Points:727,150 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:21:54 PM Ignore EcoVore Report Abuse Aerodynamic airplane design finally coming to the auto, fantastic!
rugbyphil Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:19,102 Points:3,053,425 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:20:49 PM Ignore rugbyphil Report Abuse filler news, but indeed, no news
comprof Champion Author Houston Posts:4,373 Points:895,100 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:20:03 PM Ignore comprof Report Abuse Not much new here.
jadeusa Champion Author Dallas Posts:6,890 Points:1,369,910 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:15:56 PM Ignore jadeusa Report Abuse Higher efficiency is good.
benjy Champion Author Chicago Posts:6,864 Points:1,364,215 Joined:Nov 2003	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:15:25 PM Ignore benjy Report Abuse Yawn, grade school...
250FORD Champion Author Minnesota Posts:8,265 Points:1,303,335 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:13:52 PM Ignore 250FORD Report Abuse Wait a minute, there are people who didn't know this?
NavyStore Champion Author Seattle Posts:3,768 Points:1,658,065 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:11:48 PM Ignore NavyStore Report Abuse Makes you want to draft a semi or large 4x4. When I go down I5, I have to look for large vehicle to draft behind, saving as much gas as I can. There is a big difference between the mileage on my Olds Intrigue and my Jeep Liberty (6mpg!)...
granitestater Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:6,309 Points:1,017,395 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:07:55 PM Ignore granitestater Report Abuse Ever wonder why Peterbilts, Kenworths and other trucks have flat fronts? Wouldn't the long over the road vehicles need needle noses for efficiency? --First, there is such a thing as too long. A long aerodynamic nose would just get in the way on the road or off. But the big drag is the aerodynamic cross-section. Trying to push a big square box thru the resistance of the air takes most of the energy put out by those big diesels. Sleeker cabs don't increase fuel mileage that much. Otherwise everybody would buy them. But it does make for less noise. A loaded truck makes more noise driving by than the same truck unloaded.
pbc2001 Champion Author Dallas Posts:2,316 Points:417,405 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:07:00 PM Ignore pbc2001 Report Abuse Who knows what tomorrow will bring.
Long_gone Champion Author Chicago Posts:2,653 Points:460,145 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:05:20 PM Ignore Long_gone Report Abuse This is nothing new. They've designed for it for years in aviation.
JoeKR Champion Author New Jersey Posts:7,243 Points:1,415,465 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 10:01:23 PM Ignore JoeKR Report Abuse Aerodynamic design is just one ingredient to reducing our dependence on Big Oil. We should be working on every known ingredient and looking for even more.
LoneGuy Champion Author Lansing Posts:6,143 Points:1,855,705 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:57:14 PM Ignore LoneGuy Report Abuse Most hybrids are pretty blocky vehicles in my recollection.
LoneGuy Champion Author Lansing Posts:6,143 Points:1,855,705 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:55:57 PM Ignore LoneGuy Report Abuse Try going down the freeway at 48mph.
ex911 Champion Author San Jose Posts:6,844 Points:1,339,770 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:54:38 PM Ignore ex911 Report Abuse yes, and let's make all add-on's such as ski racks illegal :)
jay4 Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:5,792 Points:1,326,080 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:47:49 PM Ignore jay4 Report Abuse Where's the news?
Amtrgas Champion Author Oakland Posts:2,551 Points:1,229,530 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:46:51 PM Ignore Amtrgas Report Abuse No matter how you get higher MPG. We all need to get higher MPG.
pyndasky Champion Author Maryland Posts:7,570 Points:1,320,880 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:40:09 PM Ignore pyndasky Report Abuse ah hah!!!! that explains it!!!! I guess I should take that parachute off my vehicle...huh?
vulcan96 Champion Author Ohio Posts:21,163 Points:2,638,520 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:35:55 PM Ignore vulcan96 Report Abuse wow - imagine that !!! lol
10k Champion Author North Carolina Posts:16,586 Points:1,786,795 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:29:22 PM Ignore 10k Report Abuse wonder how long it took them to figure aerodynamics played a huge part in mpg ??..
rxman1 Champion Author Toledo Posts:6,996 Points:1,396,195 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:26:18 PM Ignore rxman1 Report Abuse First they have to decrease the price of a hybrid.
TBONE3 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:6,383 Points:1,509,670 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:25:47 PM Ignore TBONE3 Report Abuse Improving aerodynamics of a vehicle certainly helps fuel efficiency.
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:7,201 Points:1,170,135 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:23:58 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse Audi paid the most attention to lowering their models' drag coefficient in the late 70s and 80s when few other manufacturers were concerned. A low .30s is doing well. The drag coefficient should be posted on every vehicle sticker next to the EPA mileage.
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:3,535 Points:388,610 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:19:22 PM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse Has someone just woke up to the fact that aerodynamics provides efficiency?
nnick Champion Author Montreal Posts:6,055 Points:1,180,570 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:15:29 PM Ignore nnick Report Abuse Hmm.. so what is new?
must87searcher Champion Author Maryland Posts:6,661 Points:1,313,540 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:15:09 PM Ignore must87searcher Report Abuse The idea to making aerodynamics has been around for a long time now. It had come up in the mid 1980's, not too long after the fuel crisis. This idea also brought the new style into place. Some of today's style have lost some, but it is evident that aerodynamics is always going to stay.
Blue_Cruzer Champion Author Lexington Posts:5,147 Points:1,201,650 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:13:58 PM Ignore Blue_Cruzer Report Abuse Nothing new.
Bus561 Champion Author Lexington Posts:14,071 Points:2,752,030 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:12:26 PM Ignore Bus561 Report Abuse Now what genious did it take to figure this out?
Gary65 Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,501 Points:511,655 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:10:24 PM Ignore Gary65 Report Abuse Nothing new here.
BKool Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,526 Points:1,753,300 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:10:18 PM Ignore BKool Report Abuse ok...
joel27nc Champion Author Raleigh Posts:8,152 Points:1,391,370 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:09:17 PM Ignore joel27nc Report Abuse What solution do you propose?
CobraLeader Champion Author New Jersey Posts:267,902 Points:1,200,750 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:08:49 PM Ignore CobraLeader Report Abuse ... so require ALL vehicles to be aerodynamically friendly ...
rippinusoff Champion Author Lexington Posts:5,049 Points:1,020,925 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:06:42 PM Ignore rippinusoff Report Abuse wow... I didn't know this... did I really need an article to tell me the OBVIOUS?
Joeski1 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:6,764 Points:1,273,860 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:04:33 PM Ignore Joeski1 Report Abuse no brainer....
PetroScopper Champion Author Houston Posts:4,361 Points:1,089,725 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:04:16 PM Ignore PetroScopper Report Abuse If they really wanted us to get more miles to the gallon, we would be. It's been all about the big oil boys for a long time. That's why they scrapped the first electric car the was sold back in the 80's. They want us to use more oil so that the big boys can get richer.
pinkelefant Champion Author Sacramento Posts:16,951 Points:2,194,890 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:04:08 PM Ignore pinkelefant Report Abuse okey dokey
linga115 Rookie Author Sacramento Posts:47 Points:161,890 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 9:00:07 PM Ignore linga115 Report Abuse then why does everything still look like a box. people and their fashion sense. swallow your pride will ya?
Bartboro Champion Author Georgia Posts:1,040 Points:662,645 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:56:37 PM Ignore Bartboro Report Abuse Makes sense.
mrbee Champion Author Little Rock Posts:1,440 Points:1,999,830 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:53:22 PM Ignore mrbee Report Abuse Ok!
dbatw Champion Author St. Louis Posts:1,686 Points:341,165 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:51:01 PM Ignore dbatw Report Abuse duh, you don't say....
OGW Champion Author London Posts:3,337 Points:1,111,980 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:49:10 PM Ignore OGW Report Abuse There are factors other than design and speed that affect fuel efficiency of vehicles. Many of the recent vehicles are higher off the ground and boxey in design but are rated as fuel efficient but do not appear very areodynamic. A dealership that I worked at in the 1960's when most cars were carbed use to always test mileage with the old measured gallon bottle and you just drove down the highway until it ran out of fuel to measure the mileage. It was not uncommon to see many of the full boxed frame, all steel bodied V8 powered cars get 25 to 30 MPG and some of the old 235 ci six cyclinder Chevs get up to 35 MPG. Fuel economy started to drop with the big boats built in the 70's and then again as we started going to fuel injection. Gasoline changed and the octane became lower and we had trouble getting the same speed out of our race cars and had to start mixing fuel blends and putting in additives. There were a lot of things done to gain mileage but most actually made the car less safe as we took off weight by removing the strong frames and adding plastic. Fuel economy also has to do with how you drive as much as what you drive. Racing from one corner and slamming on the brakes at the next doesn't help. I have a friend who modified his 5.4 Litre Ford with a carb and he gets 42 MPG on the highway and he passed his emmissions test. Things could be done it\f they wanted to do them.
FastAndy Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:4,405 Points:1,575,705 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:46:46 PM Ignore FastAndy Report Abuse The Chevy Volt has the best Cd, but it is not even available yet.
jjw0608 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:5,198 Points:1,364,990 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:46:04 PM Ignore jjw0608 Report Abuse SO WHAT!
Skychief Veteran Author Florida Posts:459 Points:277,390 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:37:00 PM Ignore Skychief Report Abuse And somebody thinks this is news?
swlincdrv Veteran Author Lincoln Posts:375 Points:219,115 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:33:16 PM Ignore swlincdrv Report Abuse Thanks captain obvious.
judgemobile Champion Author Ohio Posts:5,245 Points:1,983,145 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:30:21 PM Ignore judgemobile Report Abuse Tell Mr Toyoda--simple safety items apparently escaped him.