AUBURN HILLS, Mich.,
Oct. 23,
2024 /PRNewswire/ --
- $29.5 million investment expands
capability of world-class Stellantis wind tunnel with
Moving Ground Plane (MGP) technology to reduce drag and
boost EV range
- Introduces capability to measure and reduce airflow resistance
from wheels and tires, which account for up to 10% of total
real-world aerodynamic drag
- Helps improve aerodynamics of Stellantis brand
vehicles sold worldwide, a critical factor in
increasing EV driving range
- Improved EV aerodynamics may lead to potential
battery-size reductions, benefitting vehicle efficiency
and design
- Upgrade complements AI's role in Stellantis product
development; affords greater precision and additional automation,
which can increase speed to market
- MGP technology will be a key enabler in the
development of Stellantis BEVs, a cornerstone of the
company's Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan
Stellantis unveiled its innovative Moving Ground Plane (MGP)
technology – a $29.5 million
investment – at the company's research and technical center in
Auburn Hills, Michigan.
The upgraded wind tunnel will be able to measure and reduce
airflow resistance from wheels and tires, which can account for up
to 10% of total real-world aerodynamic drag.
Optimizing aerodynamic efficiency is crucial in the effort to
extend the driving range of electrified vehicles on a single
charge. This enhancement directly contributes to improved
efficiency, benefiting customers with longer EV ranges and
potentially reducing battery sizes, which in turn could lead to
cost and weight savings.
"Range is a core consideration for customers who are
transitioning to cleaner mobility through battery power," said
Mark Champine, senior vice president and head of North America engineering technical centers.
"That's what makes this investment so critical. By reducing drag,
we improve electric-vehicle range and, ultimately, the overall
customer driving experience."
The upgrade to the company's innovative aero-acoustic wind
tunnel simulates real-world travel while allowing test vehicles to
remain static. Belts suspended by cushions of air enable wheel
movement at all four corners, while a fifth belt runs
longitudinally beneath the vehicle, mimicking on-road travel
conditions.
This realistic simulation allows for more precise testing and
aerodynamic improvements.
"For EVs, a range increase enabled by improved aerodynamics
can lead to potential battery-size reductions," said Champine.
"This has positive implications from more efficient
packaging-to-weight savings that, in the end, will enhance the
customer experience."
The investment in MGP technology will benefit multiple
Stellantis brands, regardless of where they are sold or how they
are powered, and will gain from aerodynamic optimization.
The upgraded wind tunnel also provides a valuable complement to
virtual development tools.
"This apparatus is a great addition to virtual tools, which may
not account for factors such as tire deformation that can
compromise aerodynamics," said Champine. "With this technology
we can replicate such conditions and capture real-time data to
explore solutions."
The new facility also adds vital automation capability. Changes
to wheelbase and track testing, which can take as much as two hours
in conventional wind tunnels, can now be done in minutes.
The combined outcome of real-time data collection and increased
automation: increased speed to market.
While Stellantis uses MGP technology at other facilities
around the world, those sites are focused on smaller vehicle
platforms. The upgraded Auburn
Hills facility will be capable of accommodating larger
vehicles, particularly those based on the STLA Large and STLA Frame
platforms.
MGP technology is a key enabler in the development of BEVs, as
outlined in the company's Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan, and
will account for 50% of Stellantis U.S. sales and 100% of European
sales by 2030. Globally, Stellantis aims to offer more than 75 BEVs
by that time, accounting for 5 million vehicles sold annually.
The investment underscores Stellantis' commitment to
becoming carbon net-zero by 2038 as part of its leadership in
climate-change mitigation.
The upgraded facility is part of an estimated $85 million commitment included in the
2019 UAW contract. It includes a new annex for staging test
vehicles and a new outbuilding to support the MGP system, which
uses high-pressure compressed air to drive the wheel and center
belts at speeds up to 140 mph. The entire process is carefully
controlled by electromechanical actuators.
The measuring platform and turntable that comprise the heart of
the MGP equipment weighs 137 tons, rests on a concrete
foundation and are supported by a specially designed steel
frame.
The wind tunnel, capable of generating wind speeds of more than
160 mph, has been in continuous operation since 2002.
Stellantis has a long history of aerodynamic leadership:
- In 1929, a company led by aviation pioneer Orville Wright built one of the auto industry's
first wind tunnels, for Chrysler Corporation
- The Chrysler AirFlow, introduced in 1934, was the world's first
vehicle designed with the aid of a wind tunnel
- The Mercury Redstone Rocket used by Alan Shepherd and Gus
Grissom for the first two NASA space flights was designed by
Chrysler
- The Citroen CX, launched in 1974 at the Paris Auto Salon,
featured a coefficient of drag of 0.29. CX is the French acronym
for coefficient of drag
- Roof flap mandated by NASCAR to apply downforce in emergency
situations was developed in the Auburn
Hills wind tunnel
- The 2025 Ram 1500 full-size pickup and Chrysler Pacifica
minivan lead their segments with best-in-class coefficient of drag
– 0.357 and 0.300, respectively
Stellantis North America
Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) is one of the world's leading automakers,
aiming to provide clean, safe and affordable freedom of mobility
for all. In North America, it's
best known for producing and selling vehicles in a portfolio of
iconic, innovative and award-winning brands, including Jeep®,
Chrysler, Dodge//SRT, Ram, Alfa Romeo and Fiat. Stellantis is
executing its Dare Forward 2030, a bold strategic plan that paves
the way to achieve the ambitious target of becoming a carbon net
zero mobility tech company by 2038, while creating added value for
all stakeholders.
Follow company news and video on:
Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Company website: www.stellantis.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/Stellantis
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StellantisNA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stellantisna
Twitter: @StellantisNA
YouTube: http://youtube.com/StellantisNA
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stellantis-invests-29-5-million-in-innovative-wind-tunnel-technology-to-enhance-ev-aerodynamics-302284124.html
SOURCE Stellantis