Date:         Wed, 17 Aug 2005 14:59:17 -0700
Reply-To:     Michael Elliott <j.michael.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Elliott <j.michael.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: How much fuel efficiency gained by shedding 300 lbs?
Comments: To: Martine Boudreault <martine.boud@VIDEOTRON.CA>
In-Reply-To:  <AMELJGEEOOKBMMBAGJEPIEDLDFAA.martine.boud@videotron.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

On 8/17/2005 2:33 PM Martine Boudreault wrote:

>If the theory of "wind resistance" vs "weight" is correct,
>

It's not a theory.

http://www.bgsoflex.com/aero.html has a handy "Aerodynamic HP
Calculator" that lets you see how much horsepower is needed to push a
vehicle along at various speeds. You can change the weight of your
Vanagon and see the resulting rolling and aero horsepower requirements.
You can add on the square footage frontal area of your plastic box and
see the resulting hp requirements. It will do everything except maybe
get you elected Queen of the May.

(According to some tech geeks, the measured coefficient of drag for the
Vanagon body is 0.75, and the rolling coefficient is 0.014. See
http://www.goshen.edu/physics/horsepower/1998_LabReport-87Vanagon.gif )


-
Mike Rocket J Squirrel