In Auto Body Training? How a Vehicle’s Body Promotes Fuel Efficiency
Style and aesthetics are not the only factors considered when a car’s exterior is designed. Passenger comfort, performance, aerodynamics, and fuel economy are other equally important considerations.
That’s because a car’s body shape goes a long way toward determining how well it deals with aerodynamic drag. Vehicles that cope well with it perform better and are ultimately more accomplished at economizing fuel.
If you’re currently undergoing auto body training, this article can help you better understand the role aerodynamics plays in a car’s performance and fuel efficiency, in preparation for a successful and rewarding career in the industry.
Aerodynamics in Auto Detailing Training
During auto detailing training, you’ll learn how a car’s aerodynamics affects its performance. Since air has density, anything moving through it will eventually lose its speed after encountering resistance, also known as drag. To reduce drag, auto manufacturers increase their vehicles’ aerodynamic efficiency by making their exteriors more slippery. This is achieved with such styling features as sharp edges, low frontal areas, and streamlined shapes.
These days, so much thought and effort goes into the production of aerodynamic cars. Some cars even have their exterior design details altered considerably if wind tunnel testing reveals flaws in their aerodynamic efficiency.
How Aerodynamics Affects Fuel Efficiency
Arguably, fuel economy is one of the main reasons why so much emphasis is placed on aerodynamics. For a vehicle to maintain a speed of around 100 km/h, aerodynamic drag typically accounts for roughly 60% of the total power needed. Reducing that drag is, therefore, one of the best ways for automakers to accomplish the drastic reductions in fuel consumption necessary in the upcoming years.
The aerodynamic drag a vehicle produces depends on its coefficient of drag (Cd) and frontal area. The vehicle’s overall cross-sectional area measured from the front is known as its frontal area. The “slipperiness” of the vehicle is measured by the Cd, a dimensionless value that depends on both the shape and skin friction of the vehicle.
The power to propel a vehicle through the air increases with the cube of speed, regardless of frontal area and Cd. Although it is not linear, there is a direct correlation between power and fuel usage. Because of this, automakers have become fixated on reducing drag, and the wind tunnel has emerged as a crucial design tool.
How Weight Affects Fuel Efficiency
Decluttering a car’s exterior also significantly affects its performance and fuel economy, as you’ll find out during auto body training. A cluttered vehicle exterior will increase aerodynamic drag and reduce fuel efficiency.
According to the EPA, a car’s fuel efficiency improves by 1-2 per cent for every 100 pounds removed from it. As automakers look for ways to remove weight from cars and directly improve their fuel economy, drivers also have to play their part when they can.
Ridding their cars of loads in the trunks is a good way to start. If feasible, only filling the tank halfway is another way to reduce the car’s weight.
Are you considering auto careers for your future?
Contact CATI to learn more about our programs.
