Why do Electric cars look they way they do?

[Harry10]

Why do Electric cars look they way they do?

why do most electric cars have that unique look on their rear wheels where half of the wheel is covered by the body of the car?

is that functional?

does it have to do something to do with mechanics or aerodynamics?

[thunderhead]

Most electric cars I've seen are electric versions of ICE models, and look the same as the ICE version. You have to examine them quite closely to see they are electric.  (The lack of an exhaust pipe is often the only clue.)

There is more design flexibility with an electric car, because you position the motors next to the wheels and don't have to worry about the shape of the powertrain, or complicated issues like differentials, but a box with a wheel at each corner has been the accepted design for cars for over a century.

[Harry10]

no, i'm talking about the rear wheel design to most electric cars. if you look at most regular cars from the side view, both wheels are in full view. but some electric cars if you look at the from the side view, you can notice that the top part of the rear wheel is covered by an extention of the car's body, giving the rear wheel a Protractor shape.... i would like to know, why is that?

[JeroenH]

I would say aerodynamics. Shielding a part of two rotating wheels from the air through which the car moves should reduce the total drag somewhat. If the front wheels didn't need to steer they would probably cover these as well.

Every tiny saving in drag adds up when you can carry only a little energy, as is the case in a battery-based electric car. On some electrics the wing-mirrors are replaced with a closed video-system, that also reduces drag.

I think it's ugly, makes the car looks like it's from some 80's SciFi movie.

[JeroenH]

>> I think it's ugly, makes the car looks like it's from some 80's SciFi movie.

That statement is about the wheel covers, not about the mirrors.

[thunderhead]

Oh, OK.  I've never seen an electric car like that.  My split-screen Volkswagen van is like that, though, and that's an ICE.  But that's post-war styling for you, I guess.

It might be to do with aerodynamics, or somebody might think it looks "k3wl" and "l33t".  Can you suggest a model that has this design, so I can look at pictures?

[troy]

Perhaps you are refering to the "unique" look of some of the new hybrids.  I think it's a marketing thing to allow you to show off your new environmentally green car.

The vast majority of straight electic cars out there are home brew conversions.  So yeah, they look just like the ice (internal combustion engine) vehicle they used to be.

Good luck and have fun!

troy

[BT Humble]

Yep, that'd be what they used to call "wheel spats".  They're usually removable so that you can still change the rear wheels easily.  Citroen was a big fan of them up to the 1960's or so, and I've seen them attached as aftermarket accessories to everything from Cadillacs to VW Beetles.

You'd get a minor aerodynamic improvement from them, but it's mostly about the look.

TH

[nack]

"wheel spats"

I think just about every full-size american iron flirted with them in the '50s.  They were a product of the streamliner school of automotive cosmetology.

[BT Humble]

I think just about every full-size american iron flirted with them in the '50s.  They were a product of the streamliner school of automotive cosmetology.

Yeah, but they only look right when combined with BIG tailfins! ;-)

BTH

[nack]

Love that jet-age tech!