10 TRENDS POPULARIZED BY EVS

With the rise of the electric vehicles, many rare and never-seen-before car features have and are becoming standard in the automotive industry. Participating car manufacturers are inspired and experimenting to attract early adopters. With new environmental regulations and newer generations of drivers who want different things, the industry is in the midst of an automotive renaissance. With an imminent ban on most internal combustion engines approaching, the process of changing the power plant of a car is translating to a general assembly of cars. New shapes, styles, and ways of operating vehicles are emerging. Trends are encouraging lifestyle shifts for prospective customers. Like the era of Blackberrys and T-Mobile Sidekicks that led to iPhones and Samsung Galaxys, we have the privilege of seeing EV companies go through a decade or more of trial and error. What car design features will stick around for good, and what is just a fad? The current EV trends in this list have the power to sway consumers to make these carmakers a mainstay or eventual relic of the past. Here is how electric cars are visually differentiating themselves from their fuel-burning competitors.

Related: 10 Tesla Features That Just Make Sense

Headlight Bar

The GMC Hummer EV is a modular pickup truck that has quite the list of notable features, from space travel Easter eggs to its crab-walking abilities. One of its most obvious features is its headlight bar. The spelling of the model name, “HUMMER”, across the bar adds additional character and nostalgia. Despite light bars being a popular trend for tail lights, the application of the style to the face of a vehicle hasn’t really been seen before. In no particular order, the Ford F-150 Lightning, Tesla Cybertruck, and Rivian models are also pushing the trend forward. The trend seems to currently be particular to electric pick-up trucks. When the trend reaches its peak, it may be a trend that vanishes and reappears in cycles, just like the tail light bar on Dodge muscle cars.

Aero Wheels

From white wall tires on 1920s automobiles to spinning rims sitting on 24s of the early 2000s, wheels have cycled through endless trends and counting. More recently, low-profile tires and black rims have skyrocketed in popularity. The trend that follows appears to be Aero Rims, rims with fewer or no spokes that reduce drag and enhance fuel economy. This trend is being spearheaded by EV manufacturers striving to make all-electric cars as practical as possible. Rims that more-so closely resemble discs have always been around, but some may call them an acquired taste. The Tesla Model 3 made this style of a rim standard on its cars, further increasing traction for this aesthetic. The rise of aerodynamic rims is finally here, and the best demographic of buyers is waiting now.

Related: 10 Amazing Things About Owning A Tesla

Digital Dashboard

Before touch screens became standard in smartphones, owning anything with a touch screen was a huge flex. As a trend, it was difficult to imagine pressing on a screen to do all tasks that smartphones can do today. Customers were slowly eased into using a combination of virtual and physical buttons. Now, EV manufacturers appear to be driving physical buttons into obsolescence. When the Tesla Model S introduced prospective buyers to the giant vertically mounted virtual tablet, who knew that a Ford Mustang Mach-E would follow its lead. And now, there is something called a Mercedes-Benz EQS, which has a 56-inch “hyperscreen”. Who knew that a full dashboard could consist of touchscreens? Where will the airbags come from? Will this trend of digital dashboards continue to grow in size, and when will EV makers eventually decide on the perfect size? Surely at some point, wood grain dashboards and 3D printed art will fight harder to not be overlooked as a luxury standard.

Minimalistic Interior

When the Tesla Model 3 was unveiled to the public, one of the most notable differences (in comparison to a traditional compact sedan) was its bare bones, static interior void of most buttons that other sedans would have. A purchase of a Model 3 means a commitment to a much heavier reliance on the mounted touchscreen to do simple tasks. This growing trend has not gotten much praise from drivers who have grown accustomed to dedicated physical buttons. Bland monotone seating in various entry and mid-range EV models doesn’t exactly make the passenger experience fun. A consistent luxury that is becoming less of a luxury is the panoramic sunroof that gives all passengers a greater view of their surroundings. It’s better to have a greater view of the outside world, when the inside of these EVs are appearing so sad and uninspired.

Related: 10 Chinese Electric Cars We'd Love To Drive

Front Trunk, or Frunk!

A trend that is most likely to prove itself as less of a trend and a more permanent EV feature is the frunk. Because of the absence of an internal combustion engine, most EVs have taken the opportunity to re-purpose the empty space under the hood as an additional storage compartment. The frunk has helped greatly in convincing prospective customers that EVs can be as practical as gas-powered cars. Once range-anxiety becomes a thing of the past and more EV owners decide to travel across the country, luggage space will become the least of their worries. The Ford F-150 Lightning has taken a slightly different approach to the frunk by making it more versatile. Who needs to bring coolers to outdoor events, when you can just pop the hood of the pickup truck and dump bags of ice, beer, roadkill, and more beer into its frunk?

Fake Grille

One of the most obvious challenges of designing an electric car is the grille. EVs don’t need vents and breathers on and over their front bumpers, because there is no engine to keep cool. To create a car with no grille could bring negative feedback from prospective buyers, because “change” is a hard pill to swallow. For a resistant customer, a great option would be to keep the appearance of a grille. The BMW i4 is a strong example. To the untrained eye, its grille looks no different from its gas-powered twin, the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe. Also, The first generation Tesla Model S came with a faux grille that was later reduced in size to a sleek, horizontal opening surrounding the emblem. Sometimes, baby steps are necessary, although excluding the grille makes the most sense, functionally speaking. Considering that the latest Teslas lack a grille, this trend is not likely to stick around.

Related: 10 Electric Sports Cars We Can’t Wait To Drive

Fake Engine Noises

A controversial trend that has gotten much ridicule is synthetic engine noise. An exhaust note plays through the interior speakers of an EV to give the driver a feeling of normalcy. Many drivers are used to audio feedback to know if they’re driving in the correct gear or to know if their blinker is working. In an era where aftermarket exhaust systems can be confused with gunshots, this arguably silly gimmick is necessary to ease new EV drivers into the lifestyle of driving more eco-friendly. This trend is likely not going to stick around a decade or more from now, but audio feedback is still important. It promotes safety for the driver, as well as pedestrians. Unfortunately, if silence becomes an automotive standard, muscle car lovers will be limited in options to disturb the peace.

Dome-Shaped Cabin

The lack of transmission means flatter, uninterrupted floors and lower seats. This allows for taller ceiling space, more legroom, and an option to design for additional passengers. The lack of a motor means that the driver’s seating position can be pushed forward, also increasing cabin space. The EVs that are rising in prominence have the advantage of un-wasted space. This results in an evolutionary experience, fueled by “less is more”. For families who buy bigger before bringing a new baby into the world, sizing up in an EV may not be necessary. Taller than average humans also may not feel required to size-up. This trend may be a permanent force that works against gas-powered cars. In its process of introducing new possibilities, the evolution of the dome-shaped cabin will likely take on more shapes without compromising size.

Related: 10 Electric Cars That Will Surely Become Classics

Unusual Doors

Non-conventional doors are often reserved for cars deemed special. Scissor doors can be found on a Lamborghini and butterfly doors can be found on a McLaren. Suicide doors can be found on a Rolls-Royce and swan doors can be found on an Aston Martin. Not having typical front-mounted doors is a symbol of high status. It is uncommon for carmakers to stray away from conventional doors to increase a car's functionality. This is where EVs are coming in to do something useful. The BMW's i3 has suicide doors to make entering and exciting the compact car easier than if it were a coupe. The Tesla X has gullwing-inspired doors to accommodate low clearance in a parking garage and really tight parking between other vehicles. The Lucid Air's trunk opening is massive with an odd shape. It would be beneficial for this trend to become a common staple of the EV.

Exterior Ambient Lighting

As EVs take on more forms to accommodate a wider range of customers, much of the luxury segment has differentiated itself by lighting up its product line. Think deep sea anglerfish merged with a Disney castle light show. Gas-powered luxury cars have given the world projector lights that flash onto the ground. We've been introduced to illuminated door handles and crystal headlights. What's new are what the Cadillac Lyriq and Celestiq have unveiled. The grilles on those EVs illuminate and dance. This exterior ambient lighting is more commonly seen on concept cars like the Mercedes-Benz EQS Vision. Once this trend becomes more commonplace in the luxury EV segment, it could stick around, before popular culture decides that the future no longer looks like lava lamps with license plates.

2023-06-10T20:10:55Z dg43tfdfdgfd