Top Ten Best Looking EV Cars On Sale Today

[meyersnole]

Very respectable showing at number 5.

 

http://insideevs.com/top-10-best-looking-evs-sale-today/

[Rexracer]

Interesting. Looks like to small of a sample size to really mean anything.

I would do:
Porsche 918

BMW I8

Tesla S85

Porsche Panamera S e-Hybrid (does this really deserve to be considered? Ok looked it up, can go 20-22 miles on EV with effective 50 empg)

Fusion Energi

Cadillac ELR (I cant get past the fact that its just a Volt)

Fiat 500e

[Dan's Energi]

I think if you're going to judge their looks as EV cars, they should stand out.  We LOVE the way the FFE looks but the only way unknowing folks can tell it's an EV instead of a regular FF or FFH is the charge door (and I did have one guy ask if that's where I put the gas).  That's one thing I love about the Leaf & Volt, they're different than anything else from their manufacturer (well the Volt not so much anymore).  Same thing with Tesla, BMW i's and even the iMiev.  They all stand out - too bad the FFE & FFEV don't.

Edited October 11, 2014 at 01:26 AM by Dan's Energi

[Rexracer]

While I agree, they should look different, it doesn't mean they need to look odd (e.g. Leaf, iMiev). The Tesla really doesn't look all that different, its a great looking car, but put a Jag/Aston next to it, and your not immediately going to pick it out like you would the i8. 

As my wife pointed out, Ford had/has a major miss with the FFE that you can't immediately pick it out from even the regular Fusion, especially when your in motion and you can't ID the wheels. Hyundai Sonata Hybrid has enough blue accents that you know what it is without having to hunt for a label.

 

Don't mistake me for someone that can't identify a car, friend and I played "name that car" in Chicago, around midnight, walking back from dinner. based on headlight or taillight shape we typically could identify the vehicle from 2+ blocks away. Yesterday I saw a Fusion and saw the table where the "Energy" or "Hybrid" would be, but didn't know what it was, turns out it was just a normal one.

[Energitic]

Hm, I'm actually glad that it looks like a "normal" car. I have no interest in a "green looking" car. I just want a good looking one. ;)

 

Besides, here in CA they are easily identifiable via the giant green HOV stickers ...

[Dag]

Completely agree. If this car looked like the other EV cars on the market I would not have purchased it. I have reputation to uphold, I can't have anyone thinking I care about the environment...

Edited October 23, 2014 at 11:40 PM by Dag

[HotLap]

Subjective I realize but I'm with Energetic and Dag, I wanted a contemporary looking 5 seat four door sedan and the Energi was the way to go.  I have never understood why a "green" car has to look odd, who decided that?  I still can't warm up to the Prius, but I do have to give Toyota proper credit for getting the ball rolling around practical, everyday hybrid autos.  I hope Ford both improves and rolls out the Fusion Energi technology to most of their models, Escape, Explorer even the F-150!  Time and future improvements will tell for sure ;)  Big picture though is that we are slowly but surely moving towards alternative and greener fuel sources and cutting back on oil based fuels!

[stevedebi]

Subjective I realize but I'm with Energetic and Dag, I wanted a contemporary looking 5 seat four door sedan and the Energi was the way to go.  I have never understood why a "green" car has to look odd, who decided that?  I still can't warm up to the Prius, but I do have to give Toyota proper credit for getting the ball rolling around practical, everyday hybrid autos.  I hope Ford both improves and rolls out the Fusion Energi technology to most of their models, Escape, Explorer even the F-150!  Time and future improvements will tell for sure ;)  Big picture though is that we are slowly but surely moving towards alternative and greener fuel sources and cutting back on oil based fuels!

Ford considered hybridization of the larger vehicles, but abandoned it because they felt they could get better results by increasing the number of gears in the transmission instead. Larger vehicles are too heavy for efficient hybrids. Just look at the Highlander Hybrid. It is pretty heavy and I don't think the mileage is really worth the extra costs and complexity.

[HotLap]

Rexracer, I'd give you a good run for your money...I'm not a fan of "over badged" cars and have already removed all the "Energi" badges and am considering removing the Fusion and Titanium badging as well.  It doesn't matter to me if other drivers know what I'm driving or not  (the sharp ones will get it with the charge door).  The fact that I'm smiling and cruising silently past gas stations should be a good enough clue for other drivers ;)  Besides as Energetic pointed out, here in CA we have the GIANT GREEN HOV stickers on all but one corner of the car, so pretty hard to miss it!  Sure would be nice if we could get those stickers in our body color :)

[HotLap]

Steve, how do you do that (quote) I select that option all the time and it never works!  Agreed with current technology, but I would imagine down the road it will make more sense as technologies improve.  After all our Energies are kind of porky coming in at (IIRC) 3900+ lbs?

 

PS Does Ford use the CVT transmission in all of their plug in hybrids?  Just running with your comment above, I wonder what an 8 or 10 speed trans would do for our FFE's?  So how about this - using a 10 speed transmission, shedding 600 - 700lbs from vehicle weight and stuffing the underside with batteries, we now have a plug in F-150 :)  Kidding at this point but it seems things are moving into place for it down the road.  Imagine all the light duty trucks (best selling segment in America for years now) and getting horrible in town mileage (my 2013 5.0 was at 12 - 14mgh lifetime average so in-town was probably closer to 8-10mpg) so if we could get the in town mileage up to say 50mpg. it would make a huge difference to those drivers.  I'd wager that over 50% or higher don't even use their trucks to haul/tow anything substantial 99% of the time!  Mine was used for Home Depot runs and I honestly felt very inefficient using such a gas guzzler for that purpose...hence the FFE...but I guess I could go on and on...

Edited October 23, 2014 at 10:05 PM by HotLap

[meyersnole]

Steve, how do you do that (quote) I select that option all the time and it never works!  Agreed with current technology, but I would imagine down the road it will make more sense as technologies improve.  After all our Energies are kind of porky coming in at (IIRC) 3900+ lbs?

 

PS Does Ford use the CVT transmission in all of their plug in hybrids?  Just running with your comment above, I wonder what an 8 or 10 speed trans would do for our FFE's?  So how about this - using a 10 speed transmission, shedding 600 - 700lbs from vehicle weight and stuffing the underside with batteries, we now have a plug in F-150 :)  Kidding at this point but it seems things are moving into place for it down the road.  Imagine all the light duty trucks (best selling segment in America for years now) and getting horrible in town mileage (my 2013 5.0 was at 12 - 14mgh lifetime average so in-town was probably closer to 8-10mpg) so if we could get the in town mileage up to say 50mpg. it would make a huge difference to those drivers.  I'd wager that over 50% or higher don't even use their trucks to haul/tow anything substantial 99% of the time!  Mine was used for Home Depot runs and I honestly felt very inefficient using such a gas guzzler for that purpose...hence the FFE...but I guess I could go on and on...

 

Just click on the Quote button under the text you want to quote. You can then edit what is pasted into your reply if you like.

 

Yes, eCVT transmissions are used in both the Fusion and the CMax. The eCVT transmission is more efficient than a 8 or 10 speed transmission, as they are infinitely variable in the ratios they create. The reason some manufactures use 7 or 8 speed transmissions is that we are so conditioned to how a changing gear feels some do not like CVT (especially when the motor is running). something just does not feel or sound right. When you are under electric power, it just feels smooth. 

[jdbob]

PS Does Ford use the CVT transmission in all of their plug in hybrids?

 

Yes, it's integral to how Ford does the combining of the engine and the electric motor. This picture is from Toyota but the idea is the same in the Ford

 

 

Note that when running from the electric motor there is only one gear ratio between the motor and the wheels. The "generator" in the above is used when the engine is running to keep the engine within it's narrow band of usable RPM's.

[Rexracer]

Hm, I'm actually glad that it looks like a "normal" car. I have no interest in a "green looking" car. I just want a good looking one. ;)

 

Besides, here in CA they are easily identifiable via the giant green HOV stickers ...

 

 

Completely agree. If this car looked like the other EV cars on the market I would not have purchased it. I have reputation to uphold, I can't have anyone thinking I care about the environment...

 

 

Rexracer, I'd give you a good run for your money...I'm not a fan of "over badged" cars and have already removed all the "Energi" badges and am considering removing the Fusion and Titanium badging as well.  It doesn't matter to me if other drivers know what I'm driving or not  (the sharp ones will get it with the charge door).  The fact that I'm smiling and cruising silently past gas stations should be a good enough clue for other drivers ;)  Besides as Energetic pointed out, here in CA we have the GIANT GREEN HOV stickers on all but one corner of the car, so pretty hard to miss it!  Sure would be nice if we could get those stickers in our body color :)

 

 

I completely agree, that I want my car to look "normal" and not "odd/green" etc. And I don't want big "LOOK AT ME I DRIVE AN ELECTRIC" badges. My comment is more about Fords advertising itself. Those of us that own energi's should be able to see another one on the road and say "oh there is another Energi" without having to see the charging door. Same for the Hybrid. Energi owners should know its another Energi, and non-energi owners should go "Hey, that's cool and different, I wonder what that is about"

 

Ways to be distinctive without being weird/odd.

Blue trimmed LED driving lights?

Different nose/tail treatment?

Some form of ground effects?

Mirror caps?

 

I don't have the answer, I'm not in marketing. But when people who own your product cant even identify someone else with the same product, that's a missed opportunity.

[stevedebi]

Steve, how do you do that (quote) I select that option all the time and it never works!  Agreed with current technology, but I would imagine down the road it will make more sense as technologies improve.  After all our Energies are kind of porky coming in at (IIRC) 3900+ lbs?

 

PS Does Ford use the CVT transmission in all of their plug in hybrids?  Just running with your comment above, I wonder what an 8 or 10 speed trans would do for our FFE's?  So how about this - using a 10 speed transmission, shedding 600 - 700lbs from vehicle weight and stuffing the underside with batteries, we now have a plug in F-150 :)  Kidding at this point but it seems things are moving into place for it down the road.  Imagine all the light duty trucks (best selling segment in America for years now) and getting horrible in town mileage (my 2013 5.0 was at 12 - 14mgh lifetime average so in-town was probably closer to 8-10mpg) so if we could get the in town mileage up to say 50mpg. it would make a huge difference to those drivers.  I'd wager that over 50% or higher don't even use their trucks to haul/tow anything substantial 99% of the time!  Mine was used for Home Depot runs and I honestly felt very inefficient using such a gas guzzler for that purpose...hence the FFE...but I guess I could go on and on...

You can't use a conventional transmission without also adding some other method of recovering regenerative energy when braking, which would increase complexity. The current transmission can both supply power to the wheels and generate power for the battery. BTW, I believe it also spins the engine up to 1000 RPM just before it applies gasoline. That is how the hybrid works; there is no "starter motor". And that would be another complexity - and weight - with a "normal" transmission.

Edited October 24, 2014 at 09:31 PM by stevedebi

[Fat Fusion]

It's no longer sold, but my friend has a Fisker.  It's gorgeous!  :love_shower:

 

[meyersnole]

It's no longer sold, but my friend has a Fisker.  It's gorgeous!  :love_shower:

 

 

There is one of these driving around my town, and I agree its a looker!

Edited October 26, 2014 at 11:58 PM by meyersnole

[Hybridbear]

Quoting posts doesn't work with IE 11. The company that runs the Forum expects this issue to be fixed with the next generation of Forum software.

[HotLap]

Thanks everyone for your feedback and technical input...and yes that Fisker is gorgeous!!  I keep hearing <rumors> about it making a comeback...apparently there is still quite the market for the Fisker and they are demanding high prices.

[HotLap]

Rexracer, makes sense and I'm getting pretty good at spotting the "Energi" badging on other FFEs...how about having the blue charge door rings "wink" at each other when passing within 20' of another FFE :)

[Mikesan]

My first hybrid was a 2008 Civic.  Second a Camry Hybrid.  Liked the first, really liked the second.  I'll be honest.  I got the Energi because it was cheaper (after rebates) than the Fusion hybrid.    Now that I made room in the garage to plug it in, I'm liking the 20 "free" miles I get each day.  When the solar guys finally get out to hook up the electrical it'll really be free.  Always disliked the "look at me, I love the environment more than you do" styling of the Prius.  Wondered why they didn't just use the Corolla platform.  I'm sure some focus group steered them in that direction.  

Edited December 11, 2014 at 12:32 PM by jeff_h