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Re:Electric Cars Soon Will Cost Less Than Gas Cars, Research... by mgberlin on Tuesday May 30, 2017 @07:19PM (#14449368)
Of all the words I would use to describe the current electric cars (and hybrids) on the market (except Tesla), "great looking" would not be one of them. I don't understand what they're thinking in designing the boxy, heinous, toy-ish electrics that are available now. I would rather walk then have to ride in a BMW i3 or Nissan Leaf.
Re:Electric Cars Soon Will Cost Less Than Gas Cars, Research... by prawn on Tuesday May 30, 2017 @11:08PM (#14450177)
"I would rather walk then have to ride in a BMW i3 or Nissan Leaf."

I trust that is an exaggeration? Strikes me as a pretty odd attitude.

In much of Europe, with tiny streets and parking allowances, I liked that people considered their car more of a practical thing than a fashion choice. In Australia or the US, men act emasculated if they aren't driving a large ute/truck, whereas it's more often the default in Europe that they're just in whatever is easiest to park - a three-door hatch or a small-factor SUV (that would be similar in size to a hatch in Australia).

Re:Electric Cars Soon Will Cost Less Than Gas Cars, Research... by cr0sh on Wednesday May 31, 2017 @03:59PM (#14455440)
> In Australia or the US, men act emasculated if they aren't driving a large ute/truck

I wish that here in the US we could still get a small pickup, with a 2-door standard cab and a short bed, but CAFE rules have prevented auto makers from going that route.

I hate four door, extend cab pickups. I hate the long wheelbase. I'd like to be able to buy a new small Ford Ranger again (4wd this time) - but I can't. Even the Wrangler has gone almost exclusively 4-door and "big".

I can't see myself in a car (well - beyond something like a Mustang GT or similar - but I already know one of those would get me in trouble with the law super-quick); I'm currently driving a loaner Camry from my repair shop (while they take care of some problems with my recently purchased TJ), and while it's been a great car (250k and runs like a dream, honestly - for a 1993 its not bad at all!), it just feels wrong to me.

So, for now I'm going to stick with my VehiCROSS and TJ - both used and paid-for, but both suck the cash outta my wallet in so many ways. And let's not talk about the carbon footprint for either (both get around 15 mpg or less - ugh). But I don't have a problem going off-road.

Which for an EV, I'm just waiting for this possibility. Right now, though, there isn't a big enough demand for EVs period, let alone pickups or 4wd. I've seen a couple of EV pickups (Ford actually made an EV Ranger back in the 90s), but the latest concept I've seen is just yet another extended cab monstrosity (but AWD). I don't want or need that.

What would be cool to see would be the OX truck with an EV option (but I doubt that will happen, as it doesn't fit its use or demographics - nor are they likely to be sold to regular consumers).

Finally, of the EVs I have seen - outside of the Tesla - the Volt actually looks rather nice, for a small car.

Re:Electric Cars Soon Will Cost Less Than Gas Cars, Research... by madengr on Tuesday May 30, 2017 @10:28PM (#14450074)
I have a Leaf and a 4 door Toyota pickup. I'm 6'5" at 240 LB. The Leaf has much more room than the truck. I have 1/2" of headroom in the truck, and no vertical field of view. I have several inches in the Leaf. I can also put the seat all the way back, and put adults in the rear seat. Can't even put a kid in the rear seat of the truck.

EV are much roomier than ICE vehicles.

Re:Electric Cars Soon Will Cost Less Than Gas Cars, Research... by kalleboo on Wednesday May 31, 2017 @09:05AM (#14452127)
They'll make electrics that don't stand out when there's a market for them. Toyota makes a Camry hybrid but the kind of people who buy hybrids still prefer to buy Priuses.

Although having seen them all in person, I actually prefer the design of the Leaf and i3 to the Tesla. They look a bit cheap but the Tesla looks... disproportionate(?) in person. Maybe it'd just a difference in US design taste vs EU/Japan.

Re:Electric Cars Soon Will Cost Less Than Gas Cars, Research... by jadei on Tuesday May 30, 2017 @08:18PM (#14449629)
As far as all electric I agree with you but for hybrids you have some nice choices. For example, the Ford Fusion hybrid and plugin use the same chassis as the Fusion non-hybrids. Some people even remove the hybrid branding:

http://www.fordfusionenergiforum.com/gallery/image/581-2016-...

Re:Electric Cars Soon Will Cost Less Than Gas Cars, Research... by organsnyder on Tuesday May 30, 2017 @10:53PM (#14450134)
Chrysler's Pacifica PHEV also has really good looks. I think it looks even better than the conventional gas version: https://goo.gl/photos/ptC2XrJ6NnbtaDEE6
Re:Electric Cars Soon Will Cost Less Than Gas Cars, Research... by fivestar on Wednesday May 31, 2017 @09:49AM (#14452452)
Because it's not about real outcomes, it's about being seen "caring" about the environment, or whatever. The marketing people have the buyers figured out or it wouldn't be that way.

I still chuckle when I see a Prius, especially that newer one that looks like a Batmobile. People are daffy suckers.

Re:Electric Cars Soon Will Cost Less Than Gas Cars, Research... by stcredzero on Friday June 02, 2017 @04:34PM (#14473098)
Of all the words I would use to describe the current electric cars (and hybrids) on the market (except Tesla), "great looking" would not be one of them.

I think my Fiat 500e looks great inside and out.

Re:Electric Cars Soon Will Cost Less Than Gas Cars, Research... by callmeal on Tuesday May 30, 2017 @07:46PM (#14449493)
I think OP was thinking of this[1]

[1] https://www.smartusa.com/models/electric-coupe

Re:Electric Cars Soon Will Cost Less Than Gas Cars, Research... by vesak on Wednesday May 31, 2017 @07:47AM (#14451729)
Priuses are pretty, I think. But perhaps you'd enjoy something like Hyundai Ioniq -- it's more traditional-looking.
Re:Electric Cars Soon Will Cost Less Than Gas Cars, Research... by acchow on Wednesday May 31, 2017 @12:56AM (#14450500)
Does anyone have any insight into how the BMW i3 became what it looks like?
Re:Electric Cars Soon Will Cost Less Than Gas Cars, Research... by fivestar on Wednesday May 31, 2017 @09:50AM (#14452469)
BMW lost its soul? They just keep shitting on the enthusiasts in an effort to win over the soccer Mom demographic. Sad, really.