Technical Paper
Prediction of aerodynamic drag in SUVs with different specifications by using Large-Eddy simulations
2024-04-09
2024-01-2525
Emission regulations are becoming more stringent, as global temperature continues to rise due to the increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs), which have zero tailpipe emissions, are expected to become widespread to solve this problem. As the powertrain of BEVs is more efficient than conventional powered vehicles, the proportion of energy loss during driving due to aerodynamic drag becomes greater. Therefore, reducing aerodynamic drag for improving energy efficiency is important to extend the pure electric range. Honda uses CFD and wind tunnel testing to optimize vehicle shape and reduce air resistance. High accuracy of CFD is essential to efficiently guide the development process towards reducing aerodynamic drag. Specifically, the prediction accuracy for the exterior shape, underfloor devices, tires, and wheels must meet development requirements.