Mirror delete affects efficiency / range?

[Deleted member 17810]

musk said it was 5%

So it's probably like 2%.

Sponsored

 

[ThatGuyBo]

musk said it was 5%

So it's probably like 2%.

That is from 2022 but even the mirrors from early 2023 look less aerodynamic, so he was probably just guessing.
2.x% is about right.

 

[HaulingAss]

That is from 2022 but even the mirrors from early 2023 look less aerodynamic, so he was probably just guessing.
2.x% is about right.

Probably closer to 3.5% to 4% range reduction at 75 mph.

 

[Outlaw1]

Speed is the single biggest factor for saving energy, I bet you drove at a slower speed last week. I'm getting 360wh/mi if driving at 65mph, but 260wh/mi at 40mph on a bad commute day, 15mil one way.

Same for me at 65. I get about 360 wh/mi on a 46 mile round trip. I have my mirrors off, AS tires (done with and without aero covers), and drive in comfort mode. I've gotten down to 325 wh/mi driving a little slower.

 

[brur]

I wouldn't take those results too seriously. That particular wind tunnel is quite a bit too small to measure something as large as the Cybertruck, especially the difference between mirrors/no mirrors (because the mirrors are out in the turbulent air near the periphery of the tunnel). The tunnel has to be big enough that the walls aren't impacting the results.

using a smoke wand doesn't give you the whole picture. it shows a tiny area's impact but a lot of the drag is what is happening feet away from the body.

I might remove my mirrors but I would expect the drag reduction to be such a small reduction as to be invisible.

 

[NealC]

Speed is the single biggest factor for saving energy, I bet you drove at a slower speed last week. I'm getting 360wh/mi if driving at 65mph, but 260wh/mi at 40mph on a bad commute day, 15mil one way.

Energy usage increases as velocity squared. So aerodynamic drag increases by 2x increasing speed from 50 to 70 mph. The energy usage isn't all aerodynamic drag but it's a major factor.

 

[HaulingAss]

using a smoke wand doesn't give you the whole picture. it shows a tiny area's impact but a lot of the drag is what is happening feet away from the body.

I might remove my mirrors but I would expect the drag reduction to be such a small reduction as to be invisible.

At highway speeds the energy consumption reduction of removing the mirrors would be easily noticed by people who look at their efficiency numbers.

That said, I won't be removing my mirrors because the Cybertruck already has considerably more range than I need or use.

Sponsored