Active Air Skirt: Hyundai's new technology to increase the range of its electric vehicles

Hyundai and Kia have just officially unveiled their new Active Air Skirt technology, designed to improve airflow management in order to reduce the aerodynamic drag coefficient of the electric vehicles that incorporate it, thereby increasing their range by lowering energy consumption.

At present, both the IONIQ 5 and the IONIQ 6 already feature an active grille at the bottom of the front end. This system is designed to improve ventilation of the vehicle’s internal components, and it also improves the aerodynamic coefficient when airflow is not needed, as the shutters close automatically. With the new Active Air Skirt technology, the Koreans now want to go one step further.

The AAS system consists of two deflectors, located between the lower part of the vehicle’s front end and each of the wheels. According to Hyundai’s engineers, these deflectors extend when the vehicle is travelling at speeds above 80 km/h and retract automatically when speed drops below that. In this way, they explain, it is possible to control the turbulence generated in that area of the vehicle, improving aerodynamics, reducing energy consumption and, as a result, increasing range.

Any technology that improves efficiency is welcome

It should be clarified, however, that the increase in range achieved with this system is by no means revolutionary, but every bit counts. Tests carried out by Hyundai’s engineers put the extra distance at around six kilometres that can be covered on a single charge of the battery pack thanks to this technology. Additionally, an increase in aerodynamic downforce was also detected, which improves the vehicle’s traction and stability at high speeds.

The AAS system complements the “air curtains” that many electric models already incorporate in their front end, which aim to divert the airflows that strike the wheels head-on. However, these air curtains only act from the height at which the bumper sits, depending on the ground clearance. That is why, according to Hyundai, its new Active Air Skirt technology will have a greater effect on SUVs, since they expose a larger surface of each wheel to the airflow.