As Stellantis plans to close its large proving grounds in Arizona (originally built by Ford and then bought over by Chrysler in 2007) as part of its cost-cutting measures, the automotive group has also announced a US$29.5 million (about RM128.4 million) investment at the company’s research and technical centre Michigan, USA
This investment is for upgrading a wind tunnel with Moving Ground Plane (MGP) technology that will measure airflow resistance from wheels and tyres, which can account for up to 10% of total real-world aerodynamic drag on a vehicle.
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 centres. “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 automaker’s 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 creates a realistic simulation, enabling more precise testing and aerodynamic improvements.
The upgraded facility will gain 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 centre belts at speeds up to 225 km/h. The speed of air within the wind tunnel is over 250 km/h.
The measuring platform and turntable that comprise the heart of the MGP equipment weighs 124,300 kgs, and rests on a concrete foundation and are supported by a specially designed steel frame.
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.
While Stellantis already 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.
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 for new products.
Stellantis unveils first of four platforms for future BEV models