What would peoples idea electric car look like from someone who likes petrol cars?
Posted by Wolf_Play@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 74 comments
And I mean like if you had to describe it. I know they are boring, and I want to know what would make them more interesting. Personly the big touch screens can go.
Bubbly-Pirate-3311@reddit
Cheap transportation that takes me places cheaply and reliably, or a completely over the top luxury car with all the things, because electric is objectively better for that because of how silent that is.
SoNerdy@reddit
A small roadster with enough range to actually do a roadtrip.
SailingSpark@reddit
Big touch screens need to go on all cars. They are ugly and a menace as you need to take your eyes off of the road to work basic parts of the car.
VegaGT-VZ@reddit
I guess to some degree Im fortunate to be able to do track days regularly but in having given up on enjoying street driving I find EVs to be great in the real world. Average ICEV powertrain pretty much sucks, and good ones are kind of wasted and numbed by speed limits and traffic. Plus not having to go to gas stations for like 90% of my driving is great. They are pretty much maintenance free as well.
Only gripe with EVs is the over-electronic infotainment but that's kind of industry wide. But for honest real world driving, if you can charge easily I think EVs are optimal.
MountainFace2774@reddit
I just want a normal econobox with an electric motor and at least 300 mile range and an easily replaceable battery pack.
Leave out the self driving, touchscreens, fake engine sounds, fake shift points, etc... Just give me a golf cart with A/C and turn signals. No reason it should cost more than an ICE car if it's so much simpler with less moving parts!^(tm).
losromans@reddit
My ideal EV is a range extended EV that uses gas or diesel as a generator so I can still do longer trips if I want without having to worry about if my truck will make it up the mountain or not with range anxiety.
And then, yeah, I want more readily available places that can convert existing vehicles rather than being forced into a new vehicle.
And less tech that’s not upgradable, swappable, or can’t have things disabled. I don’t want ads or long boot times or having to dig into a screen menu to turn on signals, heated seats/steering wheel, and things like that.
I like my wife’s ioniq5 but, I also really like my 4Runner and miss my old sporty cars as well. I think having a conversion on an older awd manual would be interesting. I know a manual doesn’t make sense for them but I do sure miss driving a manual in a sportier car.
UncleSlayton77@reddit
Just make EVs another engine option vs. a unique model (like the Ford Fusion). But offer it in a sports car with close to 50/50 weight bias, AWD, and suspension made for good handling. One of the list of reasons I'm still not considering an EV is because almost all of them are boring sedans. The new Dodge Charger is an exception but it will still be a while before car enthusiasts get excited over an EV. An EV will never have that cool rumble of a V8 (or V10 or inline-5).
moonlite_equilibrium@reddit
How can they mske a platform balanced for both ice and electric...unless mid engine?
Then we're poking into the exotic price range where they can the the really important thing - hybrid. Which nixes the multiple spec sheets.
wh7751@reddit
Full size pick-up truck with 600 mile range while staying warm during winter and cool during summer. Nothing else will do.
Weak_Veterinarian350@reddit
Posted this else where on reddit. This project was ordered by the great grandson of the company's founder
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DE2oDKguy3Q&pp=ygUFRXYgODY%3D
halfuhsandwich@reddit
Aptera—solar-powered, visually striking design, made for peak efficiency, and actually interesting.
S2kKyle@reddit
Just give me a fully electric civic.
Intelligent-Salt-362@reddit
I always thought the “skateboard model” would allow for the type of customization that would allow for a true car culture to develop around EVs. For those unaware, the idea was that you were going to be able to select a drivetrain that was basically a small, medium or large skateboard where the batteries, motor(s), and other primary components were in the floor. Then you’d essentially be able to design and 3d print the body and interior components on in a custom yet LEGO type setup.
I know this doesn’t sound very safe, but that could be covered by a range of “passenger compartments” like the tub of a race car. The idea was that this would allow for ultimate control over style, power, and purpose, while still keeping costs relatively low. Hell, you could even iteratively enhance your vehicle by swapping out components over time. I feel like this would allow for personal expression through design, and thus bond people to their cars in a way that only remains in small pockets of tuner culture.
VW-MB-AMC@reddit
For an everyday commuter and grocery car I want a simple and small box with good cargo space, physical buttons, no screens, and I want it technically simple enough to repair it myself. My wife has a Toyota Yaris Verso which is I think is a pretty much ideal construction. For fun I would simply drive the hobby cars we already have.
therealjohnsmith@reddit
Came here to say, first and foremost make it easy to work on without dying. When my cousin's Honda Prologue goes into the shop he said they have to put it on a big rubber mat and clear out the adjacent bays for safety.
VW-MB-AMC@reddit
That is a very good point. Being electrocuted is not that fun.
Bread-fi@reddit
Just a family station wagon that doesn't have any "SUV inspired" styling, with decent range, power and handling at a reasonable price.
I'm not interested in them replacing my manual ICE "fun" cars though.
Material_Crew1252@reddit
I'm waiting for a Subaru Legacy or similar.
Crossover "SUVs" are the worst thing in history to happen to the automotive industry.
Ugly fat blobs with high centre of gravity and rubbish bootspace.
tnsipla@reddit
From a range perspective, I’d like to see someone other than the Chinese producers include the option for a fuel generator in the back of the car. It’s really ideal for the US, when you run into cases where our charger infrastructure is substandard.
I’m unlikely to ever personally buy an EV, but having that back up gas generator in there would put me into the position where I would absolutely recommend or pressure one onto the non-car enthusiasts in my life
Wemest@reddit
I was in Thailand last year and Asia has some stunning looking EVs with amazing technology. Our rental car gps screen somehow create an overhead view when parallel parking. Even the building and area around the car were accurately depicted. I assume these car were from China but not sure. Our current car companies and government are preventing the cars from the U.S. market.
silentv0ices@reddit
Lots of cars have overhead 360 views they have been around a few years now.
Geruvah@reddit
Make it cheap. No gimmicks. Not overly tech. I’d be putting all my junk miles on it: Commutes, city driving, errands, groceries, all those things I’d absolutely enjoy not putting on my good cars.
Heavy_Gap_5047@reddit
With multiple eclectic motors a very high level of control is possible, give me that control and remove all the nannies.
Piginthecity93@reddit
I have nothing against an electric drivetrain, I just dislike the kinds of cars they generally put them in.
Then again, I think that about most ICE cars these days too.
I just want a simple vehicle. I know safety regulations have to be met so I don't mind it being designed with that in mind, but otherwise I just want a simple vehicle without a touchscreen, without computerized controls, without haptic buttons etc. I drive a Jeep XJ, and something as close to that as possible (with a safer, modernized body) but with an electric drivetrain would be fantastic.
easzy_slow@reddit
Don’t care what they look like. Just want it to have a consistent 400 mile range and a 5 minute charge time. Once that happens, electric cars are the only thing that makes sense.
moonlite_equilibrium@reddit
Id be okay if they were just bare bones cheap get around towners. Sell me a 10k compact ute with 100 miles range that will just get there and back. If im not gonna love it why button it all up and make it pricey. Make it super cheap transportation.
Homer4598@reddit
Which petrol car fits your description?
datdamnchicken@reddit
S10, nissan D21, Mazda b series.
moonlite_equilibrium@reddit
I miss my d21
squats_and_sugars@reddit
This is why I've looked at ripping apart a Nissan leaf to shove that into something small like a Miata.
I need a passenger seat to put a backpack and a change of clothes to go to the gym and work, and for a lot of shopping, a small trunk. 100 miles of range is more than enough, and I don't need raw power. Basically the early 2000s bare bones Honda Civic of EVs.
To me, there will never be a "car guy" EV because EVs are "boring" to make power. Strapping in a bigger motor, running more amps at higher voltage isn't a challenge. That's the same as paying a shop to build you a 10 second car. Sure it's fast, but I'm here for the challenge and creativity.
moonlite_equilibrium@reddit
I got my motorcycles for fun. Id go trade in my GLI for a cheap EV around towner in a heartbeat
JCDU@reddit
Dacia says hello.
KetchupOnThaMeatHo@reddit
Needs to be more boxy. Every electric vehicle looks like a sex toy on wheels for aerodynamic reasons, but I'd be willing to sacrifice some range for something that actually looks like a vehicle. Boxy would also set it apart from the rest esthetically.
castlenutjob@reddit
Heavy, burn through tires, specialty maintenance i dont know how to do, volatile batteries we don't have a real solution for, cars are already expensive EVs cost even more, range is getting better but charge stations aren't as prevalent as fill stations, dont want to have a charge port installed.
Willing-Cucumber-595@reddit
I agree they are heavier, but not by as much as they used to be.
Other than the HV system, which rarely needs maintenance, what specialty maintenance are you referring to?
The batteries are getting better and I am not sure what you mean by we dont have a real solution for. This same battery tech is in people's pockets and the hands of tradesman everywhere. Recycling of lithium is a thing now, although still early days a bit but the processes are well understood and being used. Plus, older EV batteries work well for energy storage as well.
EVs do cost more but total cost of ownership is pretty close if not starting to lean toward EVs being the better deal. Charge ports at home are only needed if you use most of the entire range daily and need it full the next day, other than that most folks will likely only NEED 110v charging is using as a commuter. A recent vid by Technology Connections walked through this.
Training_Echidna_911@reddit
I still like the idea of the BMWi3.
l3l4ck0ut@reddit
no such thing as an "ideal electric car" to a car guy.
JCDU@reddit
Why? Huge torque from zero, insane acceleration, and a lot fewer moving parts - they have a lot going for them and they're not going to make your pp fall off just because the don't make vroom vroom noises.
If you want to win the traffic light races an old dual-motor Tesla will embarrass almost anyone who pulls up.
LateralusV@reddit
I liked the original idea for the Tesla roadster. Sports chassis and faster than god with no other cope
Ok-Armadillo-5634@reddit
500 miles of range compact car for less than 30,000$ and a max charge time of 30 mins
JCDU@reddit
You know what - some of the EV's coming through look great on their own merits.
The new Renault 5 looks great, better than most new cars in terms of design, and the 4 is OK too. The Alpine version is cool and the Turbo 3E version is glorious.
Some of the current Kias and Hyundais are pretty good looking too, as are the Dacias and some of the Peugeots.
I quite like the Rivians, and if Slate pull it off those could be very cool.
But honestly it's not an EV-vs-ICE thing because ugly design, stupid touchscreens, annoying driver aids, and gimmicky nonsense is in EVERY modern car but for some reason people seem to imagine it's only in EV's. Outside of enthusiast / sports cars, an average modern ICE car is just as boring as an average modern EV.
Personally my ideal EV is probably just EV swapping my old classics when the technology gets practical & affordable enough.
Tapelessbus2122@reddit
goes really fast in a straight line but can't turn (with a few exceptions ofc)
dj_boy-Wonder@reddit
The Hyundai inster with about 20% more power. A little go kart to get you to the shop but with enough power to scare you into bot doing silly things in the wet
iAmAsword@reddit
Gears
skornd713@reddit
Keep a normal simple look, depending on car, classic look and keep bells and whistles at a minimum. No need for Tesla cybertruck looks.
Own_Performer6227@reddit
Hyundai Ioniq 5N. It is sporty, has simulated shifts, and has gotten great reviews from enthusiast reviewers. Take a look!
LateralusV@reddit
Simulated shifts are so fucking stupid though
Surely no-one drives around pretending it's a manual
WeeklySky3512@reddit
Amateur racer/enthusiast here. Nobody does but the simulated noises and shifts provide necessary feedback when hustling the car on a back road or race track. When you're going 100mph around a course, your eyes tend to scan the road far head, looking for the next turn rather than looking at your gauges. The muscle memory of engine sound you hear let's you approximate the speed you're carrying into a corner without taking your eyes off the road and thus whether you should slow down before plowing off the track or into a bush or barrier.
LateralusV@reddit
I suppose there's some level of feedback with simulated revs (Do they also do engine brake sounds?). But I would worry relying on that when the computer could mess it up
PJ796@reddit
sounds as dumb as saying you shouldn't rely on ABS because the computer might get it wrong
it doesn't as long as it can tell what speed you're going
LateralusV@reddit
I mean it's not part of a safety system, it's not tested under the same standards
LateralusV@reddit
I drive a ratty WRX so I get all the feedback 😆 I feel like electronic noises would weird me out. But not tracking or anything
racerx509@reddit
They're fine. I drive an old Volvo with a swap and Megasquirt, so I'm used to plenty of feedback plus the computer messing up as well. I have a Tesla for a daily, and have wrung a polestar performance in the mountains before and borrowed a buddies. Ioniq 5n. The polestar is shockingly quick on the mountain and has great brakes, but I had kept almost getting myself into trouble because of the cars weight and the speed you think you can carry into a turn because the suspension is pretty good. The fake sounds in the ioniq and the fake shifts kinda help me at least mentally reel it in. The polestar would have me driving the same road like a complete jackass and I would nearly bin someone else's very nice car.
LateralusV@reddit
ooh I love the new polestars. Seem very cool
racerx509@reddit
The suspension and braking is excellent but it will fool you into thinking you have more talent than you really do.
LateralusV@reddit
I like the ioniq, haven't driven one but know people with them. I just think if I wanted an EV it should be the fastest thing possible, instead of a simulated manual/ice
FixMysterious5969@reddit
I do like the Ioniq 5N but I agree, I don't see the point in pretending it's something it's not.
castlenutjob@reddit
Considering how many vehicles use cvt anyways, it seems really quite pointless.
UniquePotato@reddit
In sports mode, yes.
Normal driving no, quiet and smooth ftw
hatred-shapped@reddit
NO GOD DAMNED SCREENS!!!!!
And honestly I'd like it to look like an MV-1. But with full seating.
Packagedpackage@reddit
I just want a basic car. Like an old yugo. I don’t care for power windows or power mirrors etc. I don’t need a radio/headunit. I don’t need a/c or heat, but a fan blower still nice. Defrost and wipers are the only extras I’d prefer. I like Cloth seats. Give me a basic electric yugo. Focus on what’s actually needed and forget the wants.
Toowoombaloompa@reddit
I guess it depends what they like about petrol cars?
/s by the way.
But seriously, people like petrol cars for different reasons. A big wafty V8 Range Rover is different to a Gen 1 (NA) Mazda MX-5 which is different to a 1970s muscle car. All are beautiful petrol motors but give a really different experience.
Funicular-@reddit
I don't have any issues with electric cars, they're great in fact. However for me, I just love the sound of an engine and in general just the overall experience of an ICE car.
theyst0lemyname@reddit
Mine kinda already exist. The Alpine A290, Honda N-One, Renault 5 E-tech.
For 90% of my driving small city cars like those are perfect and the retro inspired styling looks better than a lot of current production cars. Stuff like the Dacia Hipster (cringe name) is something that I'd probably consider too even with it being such a bare bones concept.
For the last 10% of my driving I'd want a comfortable wagon/estate with 200+ miles range
jrileyy229@reddit
Most cars are boring... I don't understand the premise of the question. The majority of cars sold are civics and Camrys... What is interesting about them? Why does your basic EV need to be interesting?
atsevoN@reddit
It’s less that they’re electric and more so they’re all shite looking, so if they could make it look like a 90s coupe then I’d consider it
Rough_Cancel7265@reddit
Zero complaints with what's on the market currently. I really don't think there is any good way to please enthusiasts with EVs having said that. They're largely viewed as "all the same" when in reality there are a lot of differences between manufacturers. To me that would be like me saying the Camaro, Mustang and Challenger were all the same. They were 2 door, 4 seat American cars with V8s, automatic transmissions and rear wheel drive.
thatsnotideal1@reddit
Offer a convertible. Make it lightweight so the handling is fun. Make the tech secondary to the driving experience. Focus on driver usability and ergonomics over flashy tech. Jinba ittai : the rider and horse as one. The answer is always Miata
HowsMyBuddy@reddit
Todays internal combustion cars are equally as ugly as today’s electric cars.
WoodenNet8388@reddit
I think it’s a feedback issue. I love feeling the vibration of the engine as I put my foot down. I love the feeling of shifting the gears myself. When you put your foot down in an EV, you get speed but… not much else. It’s eerie and soulless. I could MAYBE stomach an EV if it was cheap af and I was just using it for super short trips around town, purely practicality. But even then I would probably end up choosing my gas vehicles more often than not.
JP147@reddit
Back in the 1970s there was a car called the Electrek which had an electric motor and a normal 4 speed manual transmission with a clutch. To make it more familiar to people, the motor would "idle" by slowly rotating when you "start" it so the driver would use the clutch and gearbox like normal to drive it.
I am not saying having an idling electric motor would be my preference, but if I ever owned an electric car I imagine it would be some old car retrofitted with an electric motor.
norf937@reddit
Been a car guy all my life, owned a lot of cool cars from Camaro ZL1s to built Audi TTRS’s to Porsches etc.
I was never interested in EVs until I rode in my buddies Model S Plaid. That 1000+hp and face peeling acceleration completly changed how I looked at EVs.
I now daily drive a Model S Plaid with the track pack. Overall it’s my favorite car I’ve ever owned.
FixMysterious5969@reddit
Will probably get backlash for this but I drive both a BMW ICE and a Volkswagen EV, I much prefer the ICE in every way other than comfort, though I really don't mind the EV and don't see why they get so much hate, sure they're 'lifeless' in the sense that you can't hear the engine, but I am still able to have fun in it, wouldn't call it boring.
I tend to take the EV on longer trips simply because it's bigger and more comfortable when in traffic, never had a problem with finding a charger or having to stop to charge, 99% of the time I'll be taking a break for food anyway, so I can just stick it on charge for half an hour and it's good to go.
LateralusV@reddit
They would be more interesting if they gave more feedback generally
You COULD make an enthusiasts EV. But every company gets it wrong