Breaking Stereotypes: Why Electric Vehicles Need Feminine Design Touch
by AutoExpert | 8 May, 2024
So, Tesla's Cybertruck. Love it or hate it, that thing is PEAK dudebro design, right? Like, it makes a Hummer look subtle. Then you've got all these other ridiculous-looking EVs, like they were designed by a 12-year-old obsessed with Hot Wheels and Mad Max. But hey, look at Kim and how hot she looks in her Cybertruck!
But here's the thing: WOMEN buy more than half the new cars in the US. So, why this obsession with designs that scream "testosterone?" This whole electric car revolution is a HUGE chance to shake things up, and it's not just about whether the car goes vroom-vroom anymore.
Designing Cars: Where Are the Ladies At?
Turns out, most car design bosses are dudes. Like...pretty much all of them. Makes you wonder why cars always seem designed for some action movie fantasy. And women don't just BUY cars – we know a thing or two about practicality, and most car designs ain't it. Ever tried to wrestle a kid into a car seat in some of those cramped "sports cars"? Nightmare.
There HAVE been some awesome female car designers over the years (check out Mimi Vandermolen and Michelle Christensen), but they're seriously outnumbered. It's like the whole industry needs to remember that women are, y'know, HALF THE POPULATION.
Electric Cars: A Fresh Start, So Why the Same Old Look?
Here's the craziest part about the whole macho car design thing: EVs are completely DIFFERENT under the hood. Less noise, no giant engine, all that extra space to play with. Designers could go wild – rethink the whole car from the inside out! But a lot of them seem stuck in the past with this whole "power and aggression" BS.
Don't get me wrong, there are some folks trying to change things up. Buick, for example, seems to get that women want practical and stylish, not a mini-tank. Same with Volvo, prioritizing safety and comfort. And shoutout to the ladies at McLaren, who are rocking awesome materials and making cars feel truly luxurious.
So, What's the Future for Us Non-Dudebro Drivers?
Change might be slow, but it's coming. More women in the design room is step one, and hopefully EVs will finally let us ditch outdated ideas of what a car "should" look like. Think sleek and elegant like a private jet, or spacious and light for busy families. Maybe even cars that prioritize the driving experience, not just how intimidating they seem in traffic.
Bottom line: Car design shouldn't feel like you have to pick a gender stereotype. EVs are the perfect chance to design for EVERYONE, not just dudes with something to prove.