Review on aerodynamic characteristics and energy recovery of vehicle platoon

Abstract

Platooning can reduce air drag when driving at high speed and improve aerodynamic characteristics. It can not only improve fuel economy, driving comfort, and safety of drivers but also reduce emissions and alleviate traffic congestion. At the same time, the energy recovery of vehicle driving is also in line with the general trend of international environmental governance. It has played an active role in reducing emissions and improving the ecological environment. In this paper, the effects of vehicle longitudinal spacing, number of vehicles and crosswind on the aerodynamic performance of longitudinal and side-by-side platoons are reviewed, as well as energy recovery. The study found that the three-vehicle platoon reduces drag by 30% compared to the two-vehicle platoon. Comparing the aerodynamic drag of the three-vehicle platoon with that of the single vehicle, the drag coefficient of the first and last vehicles can be reduced by 20%, and the drag coefficient of the middle vehicle can be reduced by about 50%. As the crosswind speed and crosswind angle increase, the drag coefficient and pressure of each member in the platoon increase. Recycling wind energy through wind turbines and alternators can increase the driving range of electric vehicles by 23%. The study of the aerodynamic characteristics and energy recovery of platooning vehicles can provide direction and theoretical basics for the development and sustainable development of intelligent transportation.