EFFECT OF BODY DESIGN ON AERODYNAMIC PERFORMANCE OF ENERGY-EFFICIENT PROTOTYPE CARS: CFD SIMULATION IN SIMSCALE

Abstract

Energy efficiency in vehicles is a strategic issue in the development of modern transportation technology. Aerodynamic drag is a major factor affecting energy consumption, especially in light prototype vehicles with low to medium speeds. The geometric design of the vehicle body plays a crucial role in reducing the drag coefficient (Cd), which directly impacts energy efficiency and vehicle stability. This study aims to evaluate various body designs for energy-efficient prototype vehicles to minimize drag using a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation method based on the SimScale platform. The simulation results show that a design with a tapered stern, smooth surfaces, and integrated wheel covers can reduce the Cd value by more than 25% compared to conventional designs. In conclusion, optimizing the vehicle body shape by considering aerodynamic principles is effective in improving energy efficiency and is recommended for application in energy-efficient competition vehicles such as the Energy Efficient Car Contest (KMHE) or the Shell Eco-marathon.