Empty roof racks may be costing drivers more than they think
Leaving the roof rack on your car can be costly. A study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory shows an increase in aerodynamic drag, which can raise energy consumption by up to 3% on every journey – reducing fuel efficiency and electric driving range.
A study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory highlights that a large share of the total energy impact from roof racks comes from vehicles driving with unloaded racks – and that reducing this behaviour offers the greatest potential for improvement.
– Roof racks are designed for occasional use, but in practice they often