Hyundai unveils aerodynamic tech to increase EV mileage

Hyundai Motor Group on Tuesday unveiled an aerodynamic technology to increase electric vehicles’ mileage as the world’s third-largest automaker aims to raise its market share in the global clean car market.

Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. - the group’s two carmakers – introduced the Active Air Skirt (AAS) technology, which minimizes the aerodynamic resistance generated during high-speed driving, effectively improving EVs’ driving range and stability.

The leading South Korean automakers said the technology is expected to increase driving range by 6 kilometers (3.7 miles), given the result of its test application on the Genesis GV60, Hyundai Motor Co.’s premium electric crossover.

“This technology is expected to have a greater effect on models such as SUVs where it is difficult to improve aerodynamic performance,” said Cho Sun Hyung, vice president and head of the conglomerate’s mobility body development group, referring to sport utility vehicles. “We will continue to strive to improve the driving performance and stability of electric vehicles through improvements in aerodynamics,” Cho said in a statement.

EV makers have been fiercely competing to secure longer mileage with a single charge. That has made the relationship between cars and aerodynamics more important, Hyundai Motor Group said. Aerodynamic performance has a significant impact not only on power performance but also on driving stability and wind noise, the group said.

Automakers are exploring various measures to reduce the coefficient of drag, which is the resistance coefficient of the air acting in the opposite direction of the vehicle’s motion, according to the group.

OPERATES AT SPEEDS OF OVER 200 KM/H

AAS controls the flow of air entering through the lower part of the bumper and effectively manages the turbulence generated around the vehicle wheels by operating variably according to the vehicle speed when the car is driving fast, Hyundai Motor Group said.

The skirt, installed between the vehicle’s front bumper and front wheels, is hidden during normal operation but operates at speeds over 80 km/h when the aerodynamic resistance becomes greater than the rolling resistance, according to the group.

The component can also operate at speeds of over 200km/h as it applies rubber material on the lower part, which reduces the risk of external objects splashing and damaging while driving at high speeds and ensures durability, the group said.

AAS covers only the front part of the tires to fit the group’s dedicated EV platform E-GMP. It is more effective in improving aerodynamic performance to cover only the tire part since the platform floor is flat.

Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia, which have already applied for related patents in the US and South Korea, plan to consider mass production of AAS after durability and performance tests.

Write to Nan-Sae Bin at binthere@hankyung.com
 

Jongwoo Cheon edited this article.