Windshield Wiper Ideas - Let's Help Tesla!

[firsttruck]

One can easily mount the windshield wipers on a pocket at the bottom of the windshield and safely out of the slipstream.

Like this:

It looks to me like the different angles of the hood and the windshield work together to create some aerodynamic slack right over the windshield wiper pocket.

It would cost a couple of extra polygons, but millions of vehicles have solved the windshield wiper problem this way over multiple decades, and it works great!

But the tradeoff is that the the slab-fronted look of the Cybertruck goes away.

My ideal vehicle is an electric minivan with 7500lb+ tow rating. But it's hard to market that vehicle, so I'm not holding my breath. So, pickup it is!

A lot of production cars used in racing and many hyper-cars designers ( Koenigsegg, SSC, Gordon Murray Automotive) seem to think that a windshield wiper pocket is not aerodynamic enough.

The wiper parked vertically outside of the hood/windshield pocket is better than in the pocket.

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Warsteiner 1987 BMW M3 E30 DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters)

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Mercedes AMG 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II

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Porsche 911 GT3 R

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How NASCAR Found a New Use for Windshield Wipers.
Teams have found ways to use them as aerodynamic devices.
written by Joe Rutland
March 28, 2022
https://outsider.com/sports/nascar/nascar-new-use-windshield-wipers/

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Koenigsegg Agera RS with ** vertical MAW ** Breaks TOP SPEED WORLD RECORD for Production Car!!!

MAW = medium ass wiper

Insane Koenigsegg Agera RS Breaks TOP SPEED WORLD RECORD!!!
TheStradman
Nov 4, 2017

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(3:38)

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[dempster]

Also to hide the wiper horizontally requires somewhere to hide it. Adding that space incurs a lot of extra cost for marginal improvement to drag reduction.

Yeah, I remember hearing Elon in a podcast... maybe it was the Joe Rogan one? Where he cited complexity & costs being involved with hiding the wiper. The whole point of this truck is to be inexpensive.

 

[anionic1]

If you consider that the Rivian R1T has a 180kWh battery that gives 400 miles of range, how can Tesla do 500 miles of range with a 185kWh battery? Of course there are several reasons, more efficient motors, maybe less total weight and almost definitely, less air resistance.

Aside from the cost of having to dedicate a press to stamp out complex hood shapes, it is likely that having the hood and the windshield on the same uninterrupted plane is more aerodynamic than the more traditional hood pocket shown above.

We would need someone to run this through a wind tunnel or at least an accurate computer model to really show the difference.

What I do know is that lowering the air resistance on an EV means you get more range for the same amount of battery. And as we know range is the biggest constraint on EVs, so it makes sense for manufacturers to design the smoothest possible airflow over the vehicles.

I think you hit the nail on the head. I don't think they are getting the EPA rating that they thought they would so they are making reductions. The stainless bed changed to plastic. 5% overall reduction in size, getting rid of the 6th seat and passanger, which affects the mileage rating.

 

[RVAC]

getting rid of the 6th seat and passanger, which affects the mileage rating.

How? EPA range ratings are not done with passengers and cargo.

 

[jerhenderson]

The BAW is a fully functional wiper, what's the design issue with that? Nothing about the Cybertruck was designed primarily for the looks.

Also to hide the wiper horizontally requires somewhere to hide it. Adding that space incurs a lot of extra cost for marginal improvement to drag reduction. You would either need to have a section of the hood that opens up or have the hood shaped with the complex curves which is the traditional design.

I do find it weird that people can accept all of the unique non-traditional design elements of the Cybertruck but cannot move past the look of a fully functional windshield wiper.

Right Said Fred says he's too sexy for the BAW.

 

[Luke42]

A lot of production cars used in racing and many hyper-cars designers ( Koenigsegg, SSC, Gordon Murray Automotive) seem to think that a windshield wiper pocket is not aerodynamic enough.

The wiper parked vertically outside of the hood/windshield pocket is better than in the pocket.

---------------------------------------------------

Warsteiner 1987 BMW M3 E30 DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters)

---------------------------------------------------

Mercedes AMG 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II

---------------------------------------------------

Porsche 911 GT3 R

---------------------------------------------------

How NASCAR Found a New Use for Windshield Wipers.
Teams have found ways to use them as aerodynamic devices.
written by Joe Rutland
March 28, 2022
https://outsider.com/sports/nascar/nascar-new-use-windshield-wipers/

---------------------------------------------------

Koenigsegg Agera RS with ** vertical MAW ** Breaks TOP SPEED WORLD RECORD for Production Car!!!

MAW = medium ass wiper

Insane Koenigsegg Agera RS Breaks TOP SPEED WORLD RECORD!!!
TheStradman
Nov 4, 2017

------

(3:38)

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If you already have the pocket, not using it doesn't make sense, at least from an aerodynamic perspective. You've already paid the penalty for having the pocket (in the shape of the vehicle), why not get the benefit back?

It's likely that this done for some other reason - perhaps the speed with which the wiper arrives in front of the driver's eyes? Or easy replaceability during pitstops?

These vertically-parked wipers look like a compromise made for non-aerodynamic reasons to me, because they're still paying the aerodynamic price for the pocket AND sticking the vertical wiper on there. But that's just my intuition, though

 

[Luke42]

Who needs wipers to drive on Mars?

Dust is likely a problem there.

It collects on solar panels, it'll probably collect on windshields too.

 

[Cybertruck Hawaii]

Dust is likely a problem there.

It collects on solar panels, it's probably collect on windshields too.

We could mount a Golden Retriever dog to the windshield and have his wagging tail clean off the dust.

 

[CyberGus]

Ford's satirical Women's Day ad touts a 'car for men' with no blinkers, windshield wipers, or heaters

Alexa St. John
Thu, March 9, 2023 at 9:36 AM CST·2 min read

Much of the modern automobile was built by women. Ford's latest ad campaign proves it.

• Ford celebrated Women's Day with a Ford Explorer Men's Only Edition.
• It showed just how much women have contributed to the modern automobile.
• It's important to recognize women innovators and continue to boost equity in the auto industry.

Ford celebrated International Women's Day and Women's History Month… by launching an ad campaign for the Ford Explorer Men's Only Edition.

It sounds backward, but that's because it is.

Ford's advertisement this week showcased a new Ford Explorer void of many crucial vehicle features developed by women in the auto industry.

That includes everything from heaters to windshield wipers to turn signals and more.
Rearview mirror? Designed by women. GPS? All were created by women.

Ford's advertisement this week showcased a vehicle that was void of many crucial features developed by women.


It goes to show just how much of the modern automobile was built by women, and how many of those features are taken for granted. But when a vehicle is stripped down without them, it really makes you think.

In a press release, Ford pointed to women like Stephanie Kwolek, the innovator for tire and brake pads; Dr. Gladys West, the pioneer of the modern-day GPS; Florence Lawrence, a lead on brake and turn signals; and many more whose hard work is directly responsible for the functionalities and luxuries drivers experience and utilize on a daily basis.

Julia Matos, the Ford Mustang Mach-E D&R Engineer, Jackie DiMarco, vehicle programs director for the F-Series and commercial truck business, Nicole Herrera, a CAE and vibration testing engineer, and more have also made an impact on Ford over the years.

Women have made headway in the long male-dominated auto industry, but there is still a long way to go before it's an equitable field for all.

A majority of women are car buyers and also influence car-buying decisions. But Forbes reported that the Bureau of Labor Statistics found only 22.4% of "transportation, storage and distribution" management roles were held by women in 2021 — and the auto sector only had slightly more women, at 27.1%.

Increasing diversity overall in the auto industry is crucial. From features on vehicles, to even before those hit the road, recognizing the needs of different identities can actually be life or death. Even vehicle crash test dummies used to mimic predominantly "traditional male figures," which has consequences for safety.

 

[Ogre]

Ford's advertisement this week showcased a new Ford Explorer void of many crucial vehicle features developed by women in the auto industry.

I thought it was meant to be some kind of joke about how men don’t use blinkers, mirrors, or ask for directions.

 

[Ogre]

If you already have the pocket, not using it doesn't make sense, at least from an aerodynamic perspective. You've already paid the penalty for having the pocket (in the shape of the vehicle), why not get the benefit back?

Much like the Cybertruck, these vehicles lack the “pocket” for the wiper.

 

[RoadbossTX]

Okay, I was hoping the Tesla engineers could come up with an acceptable design on their own, but it looks like they need our help. I would propose a compressed air system that shoots air up and over the windshield. The unit could utilize the heat pump to warm the air when necessary. Please post your ideas on this thread, these guys need some HELP!!!

For all of those that think that the BAW is okay, and those that have nothing to contribute, other than to criticize creative think, go buy a Nissan Leaf!! You don't get it, and you don't understand Elon. He hates the BAW, and this is the guy, and his team, that is building the Starship! As a final comment, if you don't have anything constructive to contribute, don't post anything on this string!!!

 

[RoadbossTX]

For all of those that think that the BAW is okay, and those that have nothing to contribute, other than to criticize creative think, go buy a Nissan Leaf!! You don't get it, and you don't understand Elon. He hates the BAW, and this is the guy, and his team, that is building the Starship! As a final comment, if you don't have anything constructive to contribute, don't post anything on this string!!!

Tesla's patent for a stealthy, electromagnetic wiper is perfect for the new Roadster (teslarati.com)

 

[JBee]

For all of those that think that the BAW is okay, and those that have nothing to contribute, other than to criticize creative think, go buy a Nissan Leaf!! You don't get it, and you don't understand Elon. He hates the BAW, and this is the guy, and his team, that is building the Starship! As a final comment, if you don't have anything constructive to contribute, don't post anything on this string!!!

This isn’t the first thread on coming up with ideas for an alternative BAW, so most regulars are not really interested in rehashing it.

Here is some more info, with another link to more talk.

https://www.cybertruckownersclub.co...utiful-awesome-wiper-for-elon.5079/post-98061

 

[Ogre]

For all of those that think that the BAW is okay, and those that have nothing to contribute, other than to criticize creative think, go buy a Nissan Leaf!! You don't get it, and you don't understand Elon. He hates the BAW, and this is the guy, and his team, that is building the Starship! As a final comment, if you don't have anything constructive to contribute, don't post anything on this string!!!

If the BAW was high on Musk’s list of annoyances, it would be gone.

People don’t quite grasp what the Cybertruck priorities are. They aren’t changing anything on the truck unless it accomplishes one of these 4 things without impacting the other 3:

• Reduce cost
• Reduce Weight
• Make the truck more aero
• Make it easier to manufacture

Making a little hide-a-wiper cubby might make it more aero, but increases complexity, cost, and increases manufacturing steps. Seems pretty unlikely at this point.

Musks comments about the wiper were made when it was even bigger and more in-your-face.

Sorry it bugs you. But it’s not going anywhere and unless your idea can be done without sacrificing the above priorities, you can forget about it,

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