Volkswagen has been on a roll lately with its ID family of electric vehicles. The Volkswagen ID.3 hatchback and the ID.4 crossover have been well-received by critics and customers, offering a compelling blend of performance, practicality, and affordability. But the German automaker is not resting, and it has unveiled its latest and most ambitious EV yet: the Volkswagen ID.7.
The Volkswagen ID.7 is a sleek and spacious sedan that aims to challenge the likes of the Tesla Model S, the Lucid Air, and the Mercedes-EQ EQS in the luxury EV segment. But unlike its rivals, the Volkswagen ID.7 relies on something other than brute force or flashy features to win over buyers. Instead, it focuses on one key aspect that is often overlooked in EV design: aerodynamics.
Why Aerodynamics Matter for EVs
Aerodynamics is the science of how air flows around and interacts with objects. In automotive terms, it refers to how well a car can cut through the air with minimal resistance or drag. Drag is the enemy of efficiency, as it forces the car to use more energy to overcome it. This means more fuel consumption for gas-powered cars and more battery drain for EVs.
The importance of aerodynamics for EVs cannot be overstated. According to Volkswagen, reducing drag by 10 percent can increase range by up to 5 percent. That may not sound like much, but it can make a big difference in real-world driving conditions, especially at higher speeds where drag increases exponentially.
For example, let's say you have two EVs with identical batteries and powertrains but different aerodynamic profiles. One has a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.30, which is about average for a modern car, and the other has a Cd of 0.20, which is exceptionally low for a production car. If both cars are cruising at 75 mph on a flat highway, the more aerodynamic car will use about 15 percent less energy than the less aerodynamic one. That means it can travel about 15 percent farther on a single charge.
