Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation today unveiled a new technology called Active Air Skirt (AAS) that helps electric vehicles (EVs) achieve a longer driving range and improved stability at high speeds.
AAS is a system that controls the flow of air entering through the lower part of the bumper and effectively controls the turbulence generated around the vehicle wheels by operating variably according to the vehicle speed during high-speed driving.
In the EV era, where range is a key competitive factor, aerodynamics is becoming increasingly important. Aerodynamic performance can have a significant impact on power performance, driving stability, and wind noise.
AAS is installed between the front bumper and the front wheels of the vehicle. It is hidden during normal driving but deploys at speeds above 80 km/h, when aerodynamic drag becomes greater than rolling resistance. AAS retracts at speeds below 70 km/h.
The reason for the difference in deployment and retraction speeds is to prevent frequent operation in specific speed ranges.
The reason why AAS only covers the front part of the tires is due to the characteristics of Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform for EVs. The platform floor is flat, so it is more effective to only cover the tire part to improve aerodynamic performance. This also functions to enhance downforce of the vehicle, thereby improving vehicle traction and high-speed stability.
AAS can also operate at speeds above 200 km/h. This is possible thanks to the application of rubber material on the lower part, which reduces the risk of external objects splashing and damaging while driving at high speeds and ensures durability.
Hyundai Motor and Kia have tested AAS on the Genesis GV60 and found that it can reduce the drag coefficient (Cd) by 0.008, which is equivalent to a 2.8% improvement. This could lead to an additional range improvement of about 6 km.
Hyundai Motor and Kia have applied for patents for AAS in South Korea and the United States. They plan to consider mass production after durability and performance tests.
Active Air Skirt
Sun Hyung Cho, Vice President and Head of Mobility Body Development Group at Hyundai Motor Group, said: “This technology is expected to have a greater effect on models such as SUVs where it is difficult to improve aerodynamic performance. We will continue to strive to improve the driving performance and stability of electric vehicles through improvements in aerodynamics.”
In addition to AAS, Hyundai Motor and Kia are applying a variety of other aerodynamic technologies to their EVs, such as rear spoilers, active air flaps, wheel air curtains, wheel gap reducers, and separation traps. The Hyundai IONIQ 6, which incorporates these technologies, has achieved a global leading Cd of 0.21.
This is just one example of how automakers are working to improve the aerodynamic performance of EVs. As EVs become more popular, aerodynamics is likely to become an even more important factor in their design.
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