Contrary to what many people believe, with a smooth bottom, drag goes DOWN with 
increased clearance. That's why solar racers tend to have 10-12" clearance 
under the body.

With a typical ICE the underside is a mess, so they can benefit from a dam to 
keep the air flow out from there, but the bottom of Tesla Y is pretty smooth.  
I think you'd be better off without the dam.  It might even get better milage 
than at it's normal height.

February 28, 2021 7:36 PM, "Peri Hartman via EV" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Does anyone have advice on using an air dam to reduce drag ? Read on, I'll 
> get there.
> 
> I'm reconsidering buying a tesla Y. It's a crazy amount of money and I may 
> get cold feet. But I
> have to replace my ancient honda or keep fixing it (which is costing average 
> $2k / year). And, I
> want to replace it with something that is adequate for going on the cascade 
> mountain forest service
> roads, as well as modest road trips.
> 
> I could buy the Bolt, which seems to be an excellent car. But I don't think I 
> can using it in the
> mountains. That's a must, since I'm there perhaps 20 times a year.
> 
> My biggest concern with the tesla is damaging the battery or other critical 
> underside stuff. On my
> honda, I've had numerous ground strikes but no serious damage. It has 6.5" 
> clearance. I found a
> company that makes 1.5" suspension spacers that fit in the model 3 and the Y, 
> which would give my
> 8". I think that's enough that I can visually judge and slow down, so as not 
> to have a severe
> strike. (It's harder than you think, if the sun is casting tree shadows 
> across the road - almost
> impossible to see any deviations.)
> 
> If I raise the chassis, I'll get more drag. Thus, the question of installing 
> some kind of skirt.
> Does anyone have advice on this ? Would it make a difference ?
> 
> (P.S. I'll keep the honda odyssey regardless but drive it only for hauling 
> large stuff. Maintenance
> should be minimal.)
> 
> Peri
> 
> << Annoyed by leaf blowers ? https://quietcleanseattle.org >>
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