Abstract: An aerodynamic vehicle includes an aerodynamic heat exchanger formed as one or more body panels disposed along an outer surface of the vehicle having one or more fluidic chambers or micro-channels. The aerodynamic heat exchanger is adapted to provide effective and highly efficient heat transfer, and also to provide substantially reduced or negligible contribution to the aerodynamic drag. The aerodynamic heat exchanger may provide adequate heat rejection capacity throughout vehicle operating conditions that advantageously results in increased fuel economy and overall vehicle performance.

Abstract: A thermal management system for an electric vehicle having a drivetrain flow path coupling one or more motors and one or more inverters to an aerodynamic heat exchanger comprising one or more body panels disposed along an outer surface of the vehicle, the aerodynamic heat exchanger having one or more fluidic chambers or micro-channels. The drive flow path is decoupled from the vehicle's chiller and/or refrigeration cycle under all operating conditions. The drivetrain may be further characterized by the one or more motors being disposed proximate one or more wheels of the vehicle, such as within the wheel skirt or cowling, to capitalize on passive or free cooling via ambient airflow about the wheel. The thermal management system may further include a refrigeration cycle wherein the cabin and the battery pack are provided cooling in a parallel configuration or in a serial configuration.

Abstract: An aerodynamic vehicle includes an aerodynamic heat exchanger formed as one or more body panels disposed along an outer surface of the vehicle having one or more fluidic chambers or micro-channels. The aerodynamic heat exchanger is adapted to provide effective and highly efficient heat transfer, and also to provide substantially reduced or negligible contribution to the aerodynamic drag. The aerodynamic heat exchanger may provide adequate heat rejection capacity throughout vehicle operating conditions that advantageously results in increased fuel economy and overall vehicle performance.

Abstract: An electric vehicle having a heat exchanger formed in an aerodynamic airfoil shape comprising one or more body panels disposed along an outer surface of the vehicle having one or more fluidic chambers or micro-channels. The heat exchanger is adapted to provide effective and highly efficient heat transfer, and also to provide substantially reduced or negligible contribution to the aerodynamic drag. The heat exchanger includes a supplemental heat exchange system wherein at least a portion of the heat exchange capacity is provided by an inner heat exchange surface of the heat exchanger exposed to an interstitial space within the vehicle. Airflow is forced, via a fan for example, from an aerodynamically-efficient inlet, over the inner heat exchange surface, and exhausted through an aerodynamically-efficient outlet, thereby providing a supplemental heat exchange system including substantially reduced or negligible contribution to the aerodynamic drag.

Abstract: An aerodynamic vehicle includes an aerodynamic heat exchanger formed as one or more body panels disposed along an outer surface of the vehicle having one or more fluidic chambers or micro-channels. The aerodynamic heat exchanger is adapted to provide effective and highly efficient heat transfer, and also to provide substantially reduced or negligible contribution to the aerodynamic drag. The aerodynamic heat exchanger may provide adequate heat rejection capacity throughout vehicle operating conditions that advantageously results in increased fuel economy and overall vehicle performance.

Abstract: Epitaxial growth methods and devices are described that include a textured surface on a substrate. Geometry of the textured surface provides a reduced lattice mismatch between an epitaxial material and the substrate. Devices formed by the methods described exhibit better interfacial adhesion and lower defect density than devices formed without texture. Silicon substrates are shown with gallium nitride epitaxial growth and devices such as LEDs are formed within the gallium nitride.