Hyundai, Kia ‘active air skirt’ to boost EV range
New aerodynamic aid slashes Genesis GV60 drag coefficient by 2.8 per cent and adds 6km of rangeHyundai and Kia have released details of new Active Air Skirt (AAS) technology that both brands – and Hyundai’s Genesis luxury arm – will begin rolling out on future EVs, lowering turbulence at high speed and reducing range-sapping aerodynamic drag.
Deployed from 80km/h, the new active aero aid is installed in the space between the front bumper and the front wheels and is said to not only reduce drag but also boost downforce, enhancing high-speed stability and traction.
AAS works by controlling the flow of air entering the lower part of the bumper and manages the turbulence around the wheels.
The spoilers only deploy around the front wheels because Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP electric vehicle platform – on which they’re first deployed – already creates a flat floor between the axles.
When installed on the Genesis GV60 SUV, aerodynamicists found that once deployed over 80km/h the tech reduced the drag coefficient by 0.008Cd – equivalent to 2.8 per cent.
With that reduction, the AAS-equipped prototype’s range improved by 6km.
The air skirt is designed to operate at speeds up to 200km/h, while below 70km/h AAS retracts and is stowed away within the bumper.
So effective is the new tech Hyundai Motor and Kia have now applied for patents in South Korea and the US.
They both plan to roll out AAS in their next-generation vehicles once full durability and performance tests have been completed.
The Korean brands have already introduced pop-up spoilers, active air flaps, wheel air curtains, wheel gap reducers and separation traps to EVs like the Hyundai IONIQ 6 that’s said to have a class-leading drag coefficient of 0.21Cd.
Commenting on the aerodynamic breakthrough, Hyundai’s mobility body development group boss, Sun Hyung Cho, said: “This technology is expected to have a greater effect on models such as SUVs where it is difficult to improve aerodynamic performance.
“We will continue to strive to improve the driving performance and stability of electric vehicles through improvements in aerodynamics.”
Related: Genesis GV60 2022 Review
Related: What is aerodynamic drag and does it matter?
Related: Hyundai IONIQ 6 revealed with 0.21Cd aero
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