Will the Volt have side view mirrors?
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
I hope that's an optional feature.
Interesting. Seeing the focus on aerodynamics I thought that side view mirrors would be among the lowest hanging fruit. Now, any information on why? Was it a design aesthetics decision or a regulatory one?
Joined
·
179 Posts
I personally like having bigger mirrors. It helps with visibility and eliminating blind spots. I currently have a vehicle that has really large mirrors and I think it would be hard to go to a smaller mirror.
Isn't it too early to say what Aptera has gotten away with? Do they have all of their approvals? Even so, their vehicle falls under different regulations since it doesn't have 4 wheels. Silly, but my understanding is that they don't have to do the same crash testing and comply with other regulations that 4 wheeled autos do. I believe it is treated as a motorcycle.
Joined
·
1,803 Posts
Don't really know. Probably because the drag they cause isn't that bad, the added expense of cameras and displays and the effort to convince the DOT that they are just as good as the well established mirrors just isn't worth it.
Joined
·
365 Posts
Technically Mirrors are far superior to cameras
1) Much higher resolution, nearly as good as your own eye is capable of, compared to the best high def camera/screen
2) doesn't use any power, very important on an electric car
3) Projects a 3D image...You can more accurately judge distance, with a screen is it a small truck up close or a bigger one farther away
4) You can change the point of view by shifting your head...with a screen shifting your head does nothing.
For these reasons, I would never want a camera/screen in place of a mirror. Maybe in addition to, but never instead of.
What most people don't stop to consider is that aside from the cost aspect a Mirror has superior performance to the best camera system in the world...
1) Much higher resolution, nearly as good as your own eye is capable of, compared to the best high def camera/screen
2) doesn't use any power, very important on an electric car
3) Projects a 3D image...You can more accurately judge distance, with a screen is it a small truck up close or a bigger one farther away
4) You can change the point of view by shifting your head...with a screen shifting your head does nothing.
For these reasons, I would never want a camera/screen in place of a mirror. Maybe in addition to, but never instead of.
Joined
·
1,311 Posts
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/maninfo/mcpkg002.pdf
PDF page 7. I actually dont believe motorcycles have to have 2 mirrors. Just one according to this document.
PDF page 7. I actually dont believe motorcycles have to have 2 mirrors. Just one according to this document.
Don't fret too much, that is only 0.0277 of Cd and not low profile.In this GM concept car, the Precept, its drag coefficient was 0.163. However, the attached article states that the addition of conventional rearview mirrors increased the drag by more than 17%.
I did suggest, a little while ago, high impact acrylic returns on the back of the side rearview mirrors to reduce separation of flow.
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
