While the emergence of the electric vehicle as a new automotive category is radically changing many aspects of the automobile industry and consumer thinking around driving, why aren’t we seeing this shift translate into a revolution in automobile design? The NY Times looks at the major considerations shaping the entire manufacturing process, from conception to production, in an effort to explain what they see as a missed opportunity to redefine vehicle aesthetics from the ground up.
Unsurprisingly perhaps, costs are still the main culprit. In order to recoup the additional R&D needed to build in more environmentally friendly efficiencies, automakers often recycle parts from other vehicles in their fleets, essentially creating clones with a slightly greener sheen. Further along this road paved by the bottom line, the industry intentionally forgoes design innovation in an attempt to appeal to the widest audience. And while fear of failure is certainly the primary motivation for this “safe” approach, the concern is less about poor sales and more about understanding the real reasons behind the lack of interest. Which is to say, if you’re presenting the public with a radical departure on two fronts – in this case fuel type and aesthetics – and your product is a flop, then you better understand what you got wrong.
So until the automobile industry and consumers reach a consensus and agree that electric is truly here to stay, the future of our vehicles will likely resemble our present – uninspiring but with plenty of cup holders.
[via NY Times]
[image via McPig on Flickr]
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I think this automatically assumes that current car design is bad design, which may or may not necessarily be true. Gas cars are designed the way they are for aerodynamics (to improve fuel economy), comfort, safety and utility. Aerodynamics aren’t necessarily different because it’s an electric car. I still want a trunk to carry groceries, regardless of whether it’s an electric car. I still want space for myself and my passengers to sit in comfort and have access via doors, regardless of whether it’s an electric car. And I want some measure of safety if I get into a car accident. Modern cars are based on an evolution of design of the above. Are you proposing something radical like passengers sitting on top of the driver or in a permanent recline position? This would be design for the sake of design and not practicality (comfort and aerodynamics would suffer).
October 27th, 2009 at 10:21 am
Get real. Free market forces always dictate what product wins. That’s why GM’s market share is halved and Toyota’s has doubled in a generation.
So unless a new Toyota type company emerges with a better mousetrap, America will be ready to buy electric vehicles when Toyota is ready to sell it to us.
October 27th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Great .it’s really cool i like this car.I still want a trunk to carry groceries, regardless of whether it’s an electric car. I still want space for myself and my passengers to sit in comfort and have access via doors.thanks
October 31st, 2009 at 2:02 am