Charge Port Cover - Increased Drag

[Tay Tay]

This has been covered in another thread. The italic text below is directly from Porsche.

The car is more aerodynamic when the flaps are closed. I would bet the difference in aero between the different Taycan models is almost exclusively due to the wheels and tires.

Porsche Active Aerodynamics (PAA) thus offers several advantages at the front of the Taycan: When the cooling air flaps are closed, the system reduces drag and therefore increases range. When the flaps are open, PAA improves both the performance of the cooling system and the brakes at the same time. Control of the cooling air flaps is always demand-driven and depends on the driving mode, speed and cooling requirement.

You're talking about the front intakes which is different than what others are talking about in this thread. The vents behind the wheels are used to reintegrate the turbulent air from the wheels spinning. They are different than the intakes at the front which deal with smoothly flowing air and are ideally closed unless you need them for cooling.

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[TAYC4S]

It's a silly option that adds more complexity to an already complex car, IMHO. The regular charge cover works just fine.

Until some idiot rips it off whilst you are charging in public, in a fit of rage that is...

 

[Vim Schrotnock]

You're talking about the front intakes which is different than what others are talking about in this thread. The vents behind the wheels are used to reintegrate the turbulent air from the wheels spinning. They are different than the intakes at the front which deal with smoothly flowing air and are ideally closed unless you need them for cooling.

Yes, you're correct. Any data on the Cd with and without vents?

 

[feye]

Hey all,

I have seen lots of opinions from the forum on the aesthetics and need for the power charge port cover. I originally had it on my 4S build which locks in a few weeks.

I got this info from the Porsche factory rep:
The drag goes from 0.22 Cd to 0.25 Cd

Really? Big SUV Audi e-tron has a value of 0.28.

 

[DenverDG]

Hey all,

I have seen lots of opinions from the forum on the aesthetics and need for the power charge port cover. I originally had it on my 4S build which locks in a few weeks.

I got this info from the Porsche factory rep:
The drag goes from 0.22 Cd to 0.25 Cd when using the electric doors because the motor and electronics take up the space normally reserved for the fender vent. I haven’t seen any data giving a value to how this affects range; probably because there are too many variables involved. It’s really “cool factor” versus ultimate range.

Here are the ranges for the Taycan's from the porsche website:
Taycan 4S with Performance Battery Plus – 227 miles
Taycan Turbo with Performance Battery Plus (standard) – 212 miles
Taycan Turbo S with Performance Battery Plus (standard) – 201 miles

Has anyone had reduced range as a factor on making a decision on whether to add it or remove it, and if you did have it and knew it cost you range would you order it again?

Jason

I do not regret getting it, but don't know how it affects range, if at all. A little skeptical about that. Coolness factor is 100%.

 

[Tay Tay]

Really? Big SUV Audi e-tron has a value of 0.28.

FYI a lot of people forget that Cd is multiplied by frontal surface area to get actual drag. So a big SUV still has way more drag even with the same Cd.

 

[GOG]

Hello there,
When you spec. The electric charging cover the sides are blocked with the motor . Without it the air can flow. I read somewhere that will effect the drag coefficient from .24 to .22 .
Is it true and what kind impact will have . And if it is ture , is that mean it is better not to spec it and only if you want the car to look nicer. Thanks in advance

 

[NC_Taycan]

Please note the same question in the similar threads section below and look in there for your answer.

 

[bootsie]

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/power-charge-port-cover-increased-drag.3709/

 

[W1NGE]

I wouldn't lose any sleep over it and the difference is immeasurable.

FWIW the electric ports are not reliable. One of mine failed along with the charging port earlier last week..3 days in the shop and counting.

 

[daveo4EV]

any difference in drag due to the power covers iw well with the range of measurement error in the real world - wheel choice, tire condition, road conditions, ambient temperature, head winds, bird poop on the paint, dirt, traffic and current stock market conditions are more likely to have a measurable effect on range than the difference between having or not having the power charging ports.

 

[porsche_coyote]

Hello there,
When you spec. The electric charging cover the sides are blocked with the motor . Without it the air can flow. I read somewhere that will effect the drag coefficient from .24 to .22 .
Is it true and what kind impact will have . And if it is ture , is that mean it is better not to spec it and only if you want the car to look nicer. Thanks in advance

I've never seen any evidence that this is true. It *is* true that the Turbo S had the higher drag coefficient, but there are other differences like riding on 21" wheels as well as some other body/aero which could easily account for the difference.

 

[SwissTaycan]

Every time I manually open my charging covers, I am glad I saved the money. It was just too gimmicky for me and as some have posted they have failed. Actually when I picked up my car the dealer said they have said that some owners had problems in freezing weather.

Good to know I have a 0.02 better drag coefficent as well . Although I have noticed that the salt from the road seems to collect a bit in the open space.

 

[W1NGE]

Every time I manually open my charging covers, I am glad I saved the money. It was just too gimmicky for me and as some have posted they have failed. Actually when I picked up my car the dealer said they have said that some owners had problems in freezing weather.

Good to know I have a 0.02 better drag coefficent as well . Although I have noticed that the salt from the road seems to collect a bit in the open space.

Don’t get too smug just yet as the manual ones can stick shut too however there is a tool in the toolkit to prise it open!

 

[SwissTaycan]

Here I was all proud of making a good decision only to have the carpet pulled out from under me... Had not read that these mechanical ones can fail too... Ugh.

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