Lowering drag coefficient by 14.8%?

Lightning_Bob · Jun 2, 2022

This entire video is pretty fascinating - it takes a thorough full body scan of a stock F-150 scan and does aero analysis on what could be done to reduce drag/increase mpg - however this one section of the video stuck out as something that seems easily (but costly) way to net a 14.8% reduction in drag:

Not sure how one would properly calculate the impact on range for this type of bed cover....but if going by the video and assuming if one did all the mods (some of which ford has already done with the lighning - ie more aerodynamic wheels, smoother bottom) and netting 26% reduction in drag equated to 12% increase in range - doing this one thing of adding a slant/aero bed cover yields a 14.8% reduction in drag - this should yield a 6-7% increase in range...so an standard range battery would go from 230 miles to 245 miles, and the extended range would go from 320 miles to 340 miles...

This seems really tempting to try out until seeing there really is only one group manufacturing a slant/aero back for pickups, and it is pretty costly ($4,500):
https://www.mivehiclesolutions.com/products/aero-x-f-150

If anyone tries this out - please post your findings! ;-)

EVben · Jun 2, 2022

Been thinking about this as well. I’m not super worried about range generally but that aside, it does seem like there is an avenue to make an aero Tonneau cover….

cyber tonneau for lighting

metroshot · Jun 2, 2022

Yes, I loved that video!

Some practical info for sure.

But to gain 14% less drag after a $4500 bed cover seems a bit much for me.

I'd rather get a plain flat bed tonneau cover for $600 and be done.

DHK · Jun 2, 2022

metroshot said:
Yes, I loved that video!

Some practical info for sure.

But to gain 14% less drag after a $4500 bed cover seems a bit much for me.

I'd rather get a plain flat bed tonneau cover for $600 and be done.

It would seem that a regular tonneau cover would accomplish a lot by itself. Here's something that says it's close to 6%.

https://www.agricover.com/downloads/pdf/2007_windtunnel.pdf

gorwell · Jun 2, 2022

DHK said:
It would seem that a regular tonneau cover would accomplish a lot by itself. Here's something that says it's close to 6%.

https://www.agricover.com/downloads/pdf/2007_windtunnel.pdf

It's pretty mixed for tonneau cover helping. Mythbusters did a test and found it made no difference. Consumer Reports did a test and they found it made things worse.

The test above is from 2007; there's been 3 generations of F150s since then, each with an aero improvement.

F150s are designed to be as aero as possible and the current design has their air flow (as much as possible) run over the bed and touch down on the the tailgate.

The Ford rep does say the tonneau is better, but the way the tailgate is designed makes it not that much of an improvement.

LightningShow · Jun 2, 2022

Cool video. Nice to hear directly from the source that they’ve tested it in the wind tunnel.

Now i want to know how much improvement for folding the mirrors in.

Mr. Flibble · Jun 2, 2022

LightningShow said:
Cool video. Nice to hear directly from the source that they’ve tested it in the wind tunnel.

Now i want to know how much improvement for folding the mirrors in.

I want to see mirrors just die, and be replaced with cameras:

Ford F-150 Lightning Lowering drag coefficient by 14.8%? download

LightningMcqueen · Jun 2, 2022

I think the AeroCap will only make a difference at speeds > 50mph. range isn't 320 for highway.

I will be transferring my bakflip from a 2017 F-150 to the lightning. I am tempted to experiment with a cheap DIY aero top that could velco on top of the bakflip and use corrugated plastic sheets and angle brackets from home depot.

would be useful only for long distance trips.

kinda like the aero tricks they do for semi trucks.

Lightninorian · Jun 2, 2022

LightningMcqueen said:
I think the AeroCap will only make a difference at speeds > 50mph. range isn't 320 for highway.

I will be transferring my bakflip from a 2017 F-150 to the lightning. I am tempted to experiment with a cheap DIY aero top that could velco on top of the bakflip and use corrugated plastic sheets and angle brackets from home depot.

would be useful only for long distance trips.

kinda like the aero tricks they do for semi trucks.

Just make sure I'm not behind you on the highway.

LightningMcqueen · Jun 2, 2022

Lightninorian said:
Just make sure I'm not behind you on the highway.

PV2EV · Jun 2, 2022

There may be a new market for front popup tonneau covers

blpublic · Jun 2, 2022

I have ordered an ARE MX series topper/cap. It should be available shortly after I take delivery of my Lightning this month (4/18 build week). It is similar to the picture below. I will test the mileage before and after

Ford F-150 Lightning Lowering drag coefficient by 14.8%? 1654197597506

bboy_72 · Jun 2, 2022

Does anyone know what cap’s do for aerodynamics? I have an ARE currently on a power boost that I was going to use.

Easycamper · Jun 2, 2022

Would be nice to see a plot of miles/kWh at different speeds.

blpublic · Jun 2, 2022

Easycamper said:
Would be nice to see a plot of miles/kWh at different speeds.

On my current 2017 F-150 XLT v8, when I added the cap/topper, it improved my average highway mileage by about 2mpg.

Hopefully, I will be able to do a more scientific test with the Lightning at different speeds and maybe different conditions.

Lowering drag coefficient by 14.8%?

Lightning_Bob

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EVben

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metroshot

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DHK

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gorwell

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