Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

You mean like a bumper-bar..

I suspect that it will never really work, as it will just change the "Vehicle" profile, and most of the airflow would just go over it.
Naturally, if you placed in on top of the bonnet, then it would be in the airflow and would create drag and hence increase fuel consumption.. Given that most vehicles are engine powered, generating electricity is not a problem..

Now if you had a yatchet, then power generation could be good for powering instruments etc., but the simple fact is that a VAWT is no where near as efficient as a HAWT, and so for the imposed "DRAG" Vs power generated, the HAWT is far better..
A VAWT in front of the sails would alter the airflow.. one catching the wind off the sails would only be a drag.

If you are talking about a road vehicle, then firstly it would be most illegal, and I doubt that you could design it for typical wind speeds, the equivalent of near hurricane force.

and, if you are seriously keen, then do build it and report on it's relative value.. and if one's intuition is correct..
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