In the US, most electric cars don’t look very nice, and the same goes for hybrids—they often have strange shapes, like the Prius. But when I moved to The Netherlands, I was surprised to see lots of electric versions of regular-looking cars. There’s a VW Passat wagon and a Mitsubishi SUV that you wouldn’t even guess are electric—they just look like regular cars. There are also electric BMWs and Mercedes. I wonder why they don’t sell these in the US or promote them more. Does anyone know why?
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In the US, there is a trend for electric cars to follow the same pattern as conventional cars, getting larger on average. Just 25% of battery electric car sales in the United States were for small and medium models, compared to 40% in Europe and 50% in China. This suggests that American consumers may prefer larger vehicles, which could influence the design and availability of EVs.
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I think it was just a passing fad that’s fading away now.
Early models tried to look “futuristic” to stand out from regular cars and make buyers think they were getting more than they actually were.
This trend caught on, with many designs trying to outdo each other with stranger and stranger styles and shapes. Most of these were ugly and made the cars look like toys, not serious vehicles. People didn’t buy them much, and instead of improving performance, which is expensive, manufacturers focused on flashy looks to save money.
You can still see some examples of this failed approach.
Tesla changed things by investing a lot of money into better performance and shifting the visual design closer to classic car looks while still giving it a high-quality, advanced style.
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Electric cars’ designs have varied widely, but some early models may have focused more on functionality than aesthetics. However, newer models prioritize both efficiency and attractive design to appeal to broader markets.
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Based on my research, there are a few key reasons why some electric cars may be perceived as unattractive or “ugly” by certain consumers: Firstly, the unique design requirements of electric vehicles, such as the need to accommodate large battery packs, can lead to unconventional or boxy body shapes that depart from traditional automotive styling. Manufacturers have had to prioritize aerodynamics and efficiency over aesthetics in the early stages of EV development. However, as the technology matures, we’re seeing more electric models adopt sleeker, more visually appealing designs that blend form and function. Additionally, the desire by some automakers to make electric cars stand out with futuristic or “different” styling has backfired, resulting in polarizing looks that some find unappealing. But beauty is subjective, and what one person sees as ugly, another may view as innovative and eye-catching. Ultimately, as electric vehicles become more mainstream, we’re likely to see a greater diversity of designs that cater to a wider range of consumer tastes. The focus is shifting towards creating EVs that are not only efficient and practical, but also visually compelling and desirable.
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Some individuals think electric cars are ugly, but others like the way they are designed. This shows how subjective aesthetics can be.