Question Of The Day, Grandma Edition: Why Are EVs So Odd Looking?

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

Today’s QOTD comes from Grandma, who is on vacation in Florida. Grandma writes:

i have a a chevy sonic rental. i parked it, it is so small it was a breeze lots of 2014 mercedes sitting in dealer lots here. saw 2 bmw electric cars. the back lights look like the kia soul. it looks cute, but none of the beemer [sic] sophistication. don’t know why they have to make electric cars look so quirky.Upon further questioning, it appears Grandma was asking about the BMW i3. Sixt is now renting out the i3 in the South Florida area, complete with burnt orange paint and giant Sixt logos. I didn’t really have a good answer for her, other than “people want to be seen driving an electric car”. In her mind, a Bimmer is still something you buy to show that you’ve “arrived” – but it’s not as good as a “Jag-you-are”.
Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

More by Derek Kreindler

Comments
Join the conversation
6 of 35 comments
  • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on Jan 05, 2015

    My Leaf is sort of a blend between the quirky EV look, and a Nissan Versa. It shares some running gear with other Nissans (brakes, suspension), but no body panels or interior stuff. However, it does have a blanked-off steering column cover where an ignition switch should be. What I detest are the huge science project stickers that EVs are often shown with. They are/were actually an option on the Leaf. I have no interest in drawing attention to the car, and I'm no tree-hugger. Tesla wouldn't be where it is today if it built goofy-looking cars. Leaf 2.0 is supposed to look more mainstream; we'll see how that goes.

  • Turf3 Turf3 on Jan 05, 2015

    I think it's a shame that the Prius second and subsequent generations have that weird rear window with the spoiler right across the middle of it so you can't see; and then Honda went and copied the same design for the Gen 2 Insight!

    • Sigivald Sigivald on Jan 05, 2015

      1) The first gen Insight was like that, before the Prius, says both my memory and Wikipedia; Toyota copied it for the gen-2 Prius. So you got the copying backwards. 2) Honda also, bafflingly, does that on the Crosstour. I can't imagine why they think that's a good idea; it kills the rear visibility. 3) Aztek. 4) W203 C-class coupe, the one place it actually kinda looks nice. Sort of.

  • Autojim Autojim on Jan 05, 2015

    1) Not (necessarily) needing the heat-rejection airflow levels an IC-engined car has, they can get away with much smaller/bottom-breather "grill-less" front ends. 2) Depending on how they've packaged the batteries and drive components, they can swap the proportions around a bit -- within the constraints of crash regs, including European pedestrian crash regs. 3) Marketing: Much like it was/is for hybrids, the target audience for EVs is people who want to be seen "doing something" about the planet. The 2nd-gen and newer Prius is a prime example of "I'm Saving The Planet, What Are YOU Doing?" styling and sales really took off compared to the 1st-gen, which was a lightly-restyled Echo. Note that the Prius sells more than the Honda Civic Hybrid (granted, the Prius is a stronger hybrid/better car than the Civic Hybrid). Note also the abysmal sales of the Honda Accord Hybrid, which looks JUST LIKE the regular Accord save the Hybrid badge on its rump. EVs that look like EVs appeal to this market segment. Also note the previous-gen GM Hybrid SUVs emblazoned with anywhere from 3 to 9 "HYBRID/2-MODE" badges/stickers in addition to their slicked-up front ends, oddball muffler placement, and LED taillights that differentiated them from their conventional brethren. 3a) Note that this is limited more to the lower end of the EV market. The Tesla Model S is, at first glance, a largely-conventional-looking car, but it's also aimed at a more upscale, more conservative market segment. It just wouldn't do for Cogsworth Moneybagginton IV to pull up to the valet at the country club in something that looks like a glorified golf cart.

    • TorontoSkeptic TorontoSkeptic on Jan 05, 2015

      That's it, I'm creating a new TTAC login with the name "Cogsworth Moneybagginton IV." :) I have no engineering background but I'm surprised to see so many people say it's just marketing. I always assumed it had to do with the different weight and placement of components compared to regular cars, or else the aerodynamic needs of smaller cars.

  • Master Baiter Master Baiter on Jan 05, 2015

    Grandma's wrong. Not all EV's are quirky looking. As others have said, the Tesla Model S and Fiat 500E are normal looking, as is the Spark EV. The Leaf is quirky looking because Nissan makes ugly cars, like the Juke. The i3 is quirky owing to the tall, low rolling resistance tires and a desire to minimize weight while preserving interior space, similar to the ICE version of a Smart car.

Next