"Tesla has filed a patent for an inflatable "range extender." It sits in the bed of the Cybertruck and can be used to improve aerodynamics when towing. Unfortunately, it looks absolutely ridiculous. If you thought Tesla couldn't make the Cybertruck look any more outrageous, you're wrong. The automaker filed a new patent for what isand I swear I'm not making this upa giant balloon aimed at giving the truck more range. It's utterly strange."
"But it's also a fascinating way of solving one of the biggest challenges of electrifying big pickup trucks: limited range while towing. Is this an adequate replacement for the range-extending drop-in battery pack that Tesla advertised when the Cybertruck first went on sale and then canceled? Let's dive into what this patent actually shows. Photo by: Tesla Tesla calls it an "inflatable aerodynamic deflector." Technically it's classified as a "rear spoiler" in the eyes of the U.S. Patent Office."
"The giant pouch is made from is made from drop-stitch fabric, the same kind of stuff that a paddle board or life jacket is made from. It sits deflated in the bed of the truck until its needed for towing. It's then inflated to form its very Cybertruck-esque profile. Its wedge-shaped design acts to guide air more smoothly around the back of the Cybertruck to reduce drag by moving it above whatever is being towed."
Tesla filed a patent for an inflatable aerodynamic deflector designed to sit deflated in the Cybertruck bed and inflate when towing. The device uses drop-stitch fabric like paddle boards and life jackets, forming a wedge-shaped, Cybertruck-esque profile. The inflated pouch guides airflow above trailers to smooth airflow and reduce rear drag. Towing can dramatically cut electric-vehicle range by increasing weight and aerodynamic drag, so the deflector aims to lessen that penalty. The patent classifies the device as a rear spoiler and presents the inflatable system as an alternative to previously proposed drop-in battery range extenders.
Read at insideevs.com
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