Frontal Area
Frontal area is the projected area of a vehicle as viewed directly from the front, measured on a plane perpendicular to the direction of travel.
How it affects aerodynamic drag
Frontal area is one term in the aerodynamic drag equation. Drag force depends on air density, the square of air speed, drag coefficient, and frontal area. A wider or taller body usually presents more area to the airflow, although the exact value depends on how the projection and openings are defined and measured.
Frontal area is not the same as drag coefficient. The coefficient describes the aerodynamic behaviour of the shape within a specified measurement method, while frontal area describes its projected size. Their product, CdA, is often more useful for comparing the total aerodynamic burden of vehicles with different dimensions.
A small frontal area does not guarantee low total consumption. Aerodynamic drag also depends on Cd, speed, air density, and wind, while rolling resistance, drivetrain losses, auxiliary loads, and battery energy also affect range. Published frontal-area values should be compared only when their measurement conventions are compatible.
For the complete range model and the relationship between frontal area, Cd, and CdA, see Understanding EV Range.