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Sure looks a lot like your father's Oldsmobile...
Electric cars were supposed to be the future – or at least look like it. So now they're here, why do they still look like ordinary petrol and diesel cars and not dazzling props from a science fiction film.
Before they hit the market and became relatively mainstream, many imagined (or at least, hoped) that electric cars would resemble the Light Runner from Tron: Legacy. After all, without the need for an internal combustion engine, an exhaust system and a fuel tank, electric car designers should have the creative freedom to rip up the rule book and create some truly eye-catching vehicles.
But this hasn't really happened. Park a Renault Zoe next to a Renault Clio, for example, and compare the two. While there are subtle differences and styling cues that suggest the Zoe is electric and the Clio isn't, the overall body form is strikingly similar. In fact, the Zoe is assembled on the same production line as the Clio and Nissan Micra.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 14 2018, @12:50PM (5 children)
TFA makes a big deal about electric car air drag, with Cd in the 0.23 range. This may be low compared to the existing fleet of cars, but there are large improvements possible if you are willing to accept different shapes.
For example, the Sylph http://aquaflector.com/ev/sylph.jpg [aquaflector.com] was tested in a wind tunnel (1/4 size model), Cd was 0.10 without internal air flow. The actual car must be a little higher since it did have a small radiator opening at the front.
While the designer was initially looking for outside money to develop a very high efficiency commuter/sports car, he eventually realized that his tastes were far from the mainstream and built the car as a personal art project. His preference would have been for 4 wheels (narrow track at the rear), but the regulations for cars are stringent, thus it was built as a trike/motorcycle (in USA/California) to sidestep these rules.
(Score: 2) by fritsd on Sunday January 14 2018, @04:22PM (3 children)
I couldn't see from that picture where the weekly shopping goes?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 14 2018, @07:58PM (2 children)
You can find design drawings on that site. There's storage behind the seat!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 14 2018, @09:45PM
The door is very wide, with good access to the back seat (good for 1 adult + one child). Or if the back seat is flipped down, there is over 6 feet of flat floor that a friendly couple can sleep on. The engine is completely underneath that rear floor level.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 14 2018, @09:49PM
> You can find design drawings on that site.
Poked around and didn't see any design drawings -- can you post the URL please?
(Score: 3, Informative) by bob_super on Monday January 15 2018, @06:20AM
> if you are willing to accept different shapes.
Those shapes are going to cause major mutilation in the event of an accident.
No manufacturer wants those headlines.