Aerodynamic Cybertruck Gear by Mars: Engineered for Minimal Range Impact
At Mars, we don’t simply design roof racks or accessories that hold gear and call it a day. Our mission is to create high-quality, heavy-duty products that not only look great but also minimize range impact for electric vehicles like your Tesla Cybertruck. When developing our popular Mars Expedition Roof Racks, we focused on much more than just load capacity. Here are the key factors we took into account:
- Color, Material and Finish
- Gap and Flush Conditions
- Ease of Installation
- Aerodynamics
When it comes to electric vehicles, range and efficiency are always top priorities, and the Tesla Cybertruck is no exception. While powertrain efficiency and battery capacity are key factors in driving range, aerodynamic optimization plays a crucial role as well. We’ve covered aesthetics, materials, and capabilities extensively—now, let’s dive into how we optimize aerodynamics to achieve near-zero range loss with our gear.
AERO SIMULATIONS
Aerodynamics is crucial when designing accessories for electric vehicles, as drag directly affects range. Roughly 40% of energy is going into overcoming the air drag when cruising at highway speed. We conducted extensive simulations to understand the range impact of different rack designs and configurations. Here’s what we found:
BASELINE (NO ACCESSORIES)
MARS EXPEDITION RACK (FRONT)
MARS EXPEDITION RACK SYSTEM
Simulation results showed that, compared to the baseline data (Cybertruck without accessories and with the tonneau cover closed), the Mars Expedition Rack (Front) increases drag force by 34N, leading to a ~3.7% decrease in range. The full Mars Expedition Rack System increases drag force by 64.5N, resulting in a ~6.7% decrease in range.
FULL-LENGTH RACK SYSTEM
Many of our customers and friends in the owner community have asked why we didn’t create a full-length rack system that extends to the rear of the vehicle. The truth is, we did. Back in April 2024, we designed and tested several iterations of a full-length rack. However, after running aerodynamic simulations and installing it on our engineering prototypes, we were led to some interesting discoveries . As our simulations showed, a full-length rack increases wind drag by 40%, leading to a significant range reduction of up to 11.6%. The rear most section also increases material usage by roughly 40% because of how tall they need to be. The added weight with a noticeable drop in aero didn’t convince us to move forward with production.
Our goal was to develop a rack system that’s structurally robust, seamlessly integrated with the Cybertruck’s design, extremely easy to install, and doesn’t obstruct access to the truck bed. The result is the Mars Expedition Rack System—featuring a lightweight, single-piece aluminum design with no exposed bolts. It holds all your adventure gear, including a rooftop tent, and has a minimal impact on range.”
FINAL THOUGHTS
By focusing on aerodynamics, we’ve designed roof racks that add versatility and mounting options to the Cybertruck while keeping range loss to a minimum. For those seeking something even more extreme, stay tuned for our upcoming halo product, launching later this year.