Focus on range, resulted in ‘Jelly Bean’ EVs, says Nissan design boss

The design boss though did mention that he expects the design language to change soon.

Alfonso Albaisa, Senior VP of Global Design, Nissan, stated in an interview, as to why there are so many ugly EVs and how the industry could soon be moving away from them.

Albaisa mentioned that all carmakers focussed on maximising range by cutting aerodynamic drag. In the quest for maximising range, EVs started getting a low nose while keeping the body clean and high, resulting in a “jelly bean” shape.

Albaisa stated, EVs prescribe a need for certain types of aerodynamics.” He further added, “The risk on an EV is [that] even though we have a blank canvas, we have a skateboard, we can do a lot, but the wind is telling us actually, no, we want the nose exactly here.” The design boss went on to add that, “So this is a conscious rebellion against the prescription of what the wind wants. Because in the end, it’s about range, the wind wants it a certain way because it needs to go 300 minimum, 400 minimum miles. I think that those first generation, the first EVs have a tendency to be jelly bean-ish: very clean and the body is high, the nose is low.”

The design boss though did mention that he expects the design language to change soon. Talking about the future Nissan EV in the works, Albaisa stated, “I think already people are pushing back, because we have like 13 or 14 that we’re making […] where some are a little bit smoother. And those are also cool, but you see the friction between languages. I think people are impatient, they want something new.”

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