View Single Post
Old 09-01-2015, 02:50 PM   #2
fredric21
AF Newbie
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: London
Posts: 2
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Re: Economical Speed

The economical speed for a land vehicle is dependent on the following factors:
Engine efficiency at low power, tire rolling resistance and air resistance.

Rolling resistance varies with vehicle weight and tyre contact area. The greater the weight of the vehicle, the more the rolling resistance due to an increase in contact area. More tire pressure reduces rolling resistance, because it reduces the contact area.
Air resistance varies with the frontal area of the vehicle and the square of the velocity. Twice the speed equals four times the drag, whilst four times the speed equals sixteen times the drag! The frontal area directly affects the Coefficient of Drag, as does the shape (although to a lesser degree).
An exact figure for the most efficient cruise cannot be given.
fredric21 is offline   Reply With Quote