Is air suspension good or bad?

Evaluation of Air Suspension: Advantages and Disadvantages Analysis

Air suspension, as an advanced vehicle suspension technology, has both significant advantages and certain limitations, which can be comprehensively understood through the following aspects:

Advantages of Air Suspension

  • Adaptive Performance to Road Conditions
    It can adjust the hardness of the shock absorber and the height of the vehicle body by changing the amount of gas in the shock absorber, so as to make corresponding responses according to different road conditions . For example, when driving at high speed, the system will automatically lower the vehicle body to reduce wind resistance and improve driving stability .
  • Enhanced Driving Comfort
    Compared with traditional spring suspension, air suspension uses airbags as the support structure. The airbags are evenly distributed during compression, avoiding the rigidity of springs and effectively buffering body vibrations . It can automatically adjust air pressure according to road conditions, ensuring smooth driving even on bumpy roads .
  • Intelligent Height and Damping Adjustment
    Some advanced systems, such as the Magic Carpet Air Suspension of the Li Auto L9, are equipped with self-developed CDC continuously adjustable damping shock absorbers, which can adjust the damping of the shock absorber in milliseconds to control the vehicle's attitude . It can also maintain a constant vehicle height regardless of whether the vehicle is empty or fully loaded, ensuring driving stability .

Disadvantages of Air Suspension

  • High Cost and Maintenance Expenses
    Due to its complex manufacturing process and numerous components, the cost remains high . At the same time, air shock absorbers are more prone to damage than traditional shock absorbers. For example, the compressor may be damaged due to overheating from prolonged inflation, and the hard plastic air pipes are easy to break or leak .
  • Potential Driving Stability Issues
    Since the vehicle body adjustment relies on computer control, the suspension data is not a fixed value like that of ordinary suspensions. Frequent changes in vehicle height may easily cause deviation problems .
  • Risk of Vehicle Immobilization After Damage
    Once the air suspension is damaged, the vehicle body will collapse, making the vehicle unable to drive .
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