Hi guys, you sounded a little unsure on what characteristics most effected a car’s energy efficiency under what circumstances .


1. City driving, frequent stopping ,top speed around 45 mph
a) overall weight
b) energy usage during idle
c) regenerative breaking
d) wheel characteristics

2. Highway driving , flat, fairly constant speed between 65-75mph
a) aerodynamics
b) wheel characteristics

Wheel characteristics for energy efficiency 1) the less wheels the better, two is better than three, three is better than four.   2) light is better than heavy 3) the rounder the better ,all wheels are round but some are rounder than others 4) hard is better than soft the more a wheel deforms the more energy it uses 5) Aerodynamic properties , the more air it moves the more it’s like a fan and fans use energy. Of course some of the characteristics favorable for efficiency would be unfavorable for ride comfort and handling (especially during adverse road conditions like snow or rain).