Volvo Says Design Of Electric Cars Must Change

There's no getting away from electric cars. They've becomemore affordable to runand are obviously kinder to the environment when they're driving on the road. One of the most forward-thinking companies out there is Volvo, and the Swedish automaker has made great strides in making these EVs attractive. Although the brand makes normal sedans like theVolvo S90, it's SUVs and crossovers like theXC40 Rechargethat most households are interested in. These body styles are more practical, but due to their tall stature, they experience a lot more drag at highway speeds than a lower vehicle like a sedan. Thus, electric SUVs tend to drain their batteries quicker at speed as wind resistance forces the electric motors to work harder. Volvo thinks something needs to change.

Autocarspoke with the head of Volvo's Europe, Middle East, and Africa regions, Bjorn Annwall, who says that SUVs will need to become sleeker to reduce aerodynamic drag. "We need to adjust the design of our future cars to find the right balance between consumer appeal and functionality and range. The cars will look different in the future due to that. The aerodynamics will become more important, especially if you drive at higher speeds on the motorway. They're less important for city cars that are used for shorter distances because the aero doesn't play such a big role here."

What this means is that cars will have to become slipperier, but also not, as those vehicles designed predominantly for urban use will not need to be as efficient at carving through the air.