Why cant they harness the wind power your vehicle creates when driving down the road?

Question

Stick your hand out the window, feel the strong wind flying by your car, why couldnt they install special vents on the front, side and back to funnel that wind into some type of turbine that would create enough party to continually charge batteries

Answer 1

it's been tested, however it is amazingly expensive and would triple the cost of a vehicle, also the technology is heavy and doesn't create even near the power that combustion does.

wind drag alone would reverse any benefits.

Answer 2

Because the wind turbines would create extra drag so 1) the vehicle would slow down or 2) to maintain the same speed more power would be needed.  And the power provided to maintain the speed would be more than the power generated by having the wind turbines there, so it's more efficient not to have them.

Answer 3

Wow never thought you could do that hey check out my site on how to DIY your own wind power for your house and eliminate your power bill

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Answer 4

The previous answer is correct, I'd just like to add that your idea would have some merit in the situation where your vehicle was moving under the power of gravity, rather than its own propulsion. If you were able to coast downhill all the time, your turbines would actually work. However, it would be much more efficient to simply couple the wheels to a generator directly... just the way many hybrid cars already work.