Hyundai
Hyundai brings AAS tech to reduce aerodynamic drag in EVs and increase driving range
Hyundai Motors on Monday unveiled an interesting technology called Active Air Skirt (AAS) to reduce aerodynamic drag during high-speed driving in electric vehicles (EVs) and increase driving range.
As a car moves it collides with the air particles in front of it. The faster an object moves, the more particles it has to deal with at once, making further movement more difficult.
Therefore, aerodynamics plays a major role in power performance, driving stability, and wind noise in EVs. The carmaker says that AAS technology controls the flow of air entering through the lower part of the bumper.
It controls the turbulence generated around the vehicle wheels by operating variably alongside speed during high-speed driving.
Hyundai Active Air Skirt (AAS) EVs technology (source – Hyundai)
AAS is installed between the front bumper and the front wheels of the vehicle. It triggers the deployment when the vehicle accelerates over 80 km/h.
Once deployed, AAS covers the front part of the tires without completely covering the front of the Hyundai E-GMP platform for EVs.
At maximum, the AAS technology could operate at a speed of over 200 km/h. Hyundai and its subsidiary have tested and reduced the drag by 0.008 with 2.8% drag improvements and range improvements of over 6 kilometers.
The entire application uses rubber material on the lower part to reduce the risk of external objects splashing and damaging while driving at high speed.
It improves aerodynamic performance to only cover the tire part. As an outcome, the AAS enhances the downforce of the vehicle and improves vehicle traction and high-speed stability.