- Stellantis upgraded its wind tunnel to the tune of $29.5 million
- The upgrades focused on aero efficiency to help with EV range
- What used to take hours can now take minutes to change with the recent wind tunnel upgrades
Stellantis on Wednesday unveiled a $29.5 million upgrade of the wind tunnel at its main research and development facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan, giving engineers an enhanced tool to further improve efficiency and EV range.
Upgrades to the wind tunnel, which has been in continuous operation since 2002, include provisions for specific measurements of airflow resistance around wheels and tires, Stellantis said, adding that wheels and tires can account for up to 10% of real-world aerodynamic drag.
Vehicles remain static, with belts suspended on cushions of air turning all four wheels. A fifth moving belt represents the effect of travel over a road surface. Compressed air drives the belts at speeds up to 140 mph, while the tunnel is capable of generating wind speeds of up to 160 mph, according to Stellantis. The automaker uses similar wind-tunnel technology at other facilities globally, but the Michigan facility can accommodate larger vehicles—including EVs based on the STLA Large and STLA Frame platforms.
Increased automation also means that changes of wheelbase and track that can take up to two hours in conventional wind tunnels can now be done in minutes, according to Stellantis. This lets the wind tunnel continue to act as a vital complement to virtual simulations…