Is the natural world influencing the design of the next generation of electric vehicles?
In the last 10 years, electric cars have come a long way; they were once only thought of as transport for those who rejected practicality for the status of owning a fully electric car.
Back in 2007, electric car pioneers, Tesla Motors hadn’t yet released a car and most electric vehicles available were either milk floats, golf carts or the G-Wiz.
The heavily critiqued G-Wiz had a range of just 50 miles with a charge time of eight hours, making it very impractical for the majority of the population. In 2010, just 138 electric cars were sold in the UK. Compare that to the second half of 2016 when more than 66,000 plug-in electric vehicles were registered. World-wide the 2016 figure is estimated at 1.3m cars.
Why has there been a surge in electric cars?
As technological breakthroughs increase, the practicality of electric vehicles has become a much better alternative to the traditional combustion engine. So much so, that German politicians have called on their Government and the EU to ban the combustion engine in vehicles by the year 2030.
Every major manufacturer of cars around the world is developing or has developed a fully electric car – with even non-automobile manufacturers such as Google and Apple entering the market.
Luxury electric vehicle manufacturer, Tesla, has been a market leader since 2010 with the introduction of the Model S. It has corporate styling with heavy lines and a minimalist interior that wouldn’t look out of place in a high-rise office reception.
But in the last year, there has been a boom in the plug-in electric car market with big announcements from Jaguar and Lucid Motors, a Chinese backed auto start-up. These latest cars can give us a glimpse at what the future of electric looks like.
What does the future of electric cars hold?
Although it is still at the concept stage, the interior of Jaguar’s I-Pace is reminiscent of a chic lobby with neutral sandy tones covering the dashboard and seats plus rustic wooden inserts in the centre console and across the dashboard.
It’s no coincidence that Jaguar’s promotional video is set in a desert environment; they want the outside world to flow inside the car and break down the barrier between the two. The roof features a large glass panel that floods the interior with light during the day and allows the passengers to gaze at the stars at night.
Auto manufacturers bring their customers and passengers closer to nature with innovative methods that enhance the experience. Even futuristic Tesla feature an extended windscreen that stretches over the head of the driver to give panoramic views.
Lucid Motors, a start-up motor company in California, has recently released their latest car, the Lucid Air, which looks very different from today’s motors. The back seats resemble something closer to the rear of a luxury wooden powerboat with finishes in wood and leather to give the feeling that you are floating on the French Riviera.
As concerns for the wellbeing and sustainability of the environment grow, so too has the interest in electric vehicles and the financial commitment from manufacturers. It is only fitting that those who have a connection to the environment by going electric are made to feel closer to nature through the interior design.
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With billions of pounds being invested in electric vehicles and concept cars being launched on a monthly basis, how long will it be before these plug-in cars dominate our roads?
