GOING ELECTRIC

One such force is the electric car movement, a force that is growing in momentum year by year. The top names in the business are discovering new ways to incorporate the latest battery technology into their cars, unlocking an entirely new dimension for car design as large and encumbering combustion engines get removed.

Volkswagen’s I. D. concept is another step towards making this common. The production version of the I.D., which is expected to make a public debut within the year, is said to be about the same length as the company’s Golf hatchback but offer the same cabin space as the larger Passat saloon.

Mercedes- Benz’s Concept EQ will be the first of a new family of all- electric vehicles from the German manufacturer. Much like the Volkswagen I. D., the EQ will be based on a chassis that’s been designed from the ground up to run on electricity alone.

“This, in turn, wi l l bring considerable changes in technology and design. There is a school of thought that says eco- cars have to focus entirely on aerodynamics, slipping as efficiently as possible through the air to eke every mile out of the electric (or petrol- electric) powertrain. That’s why, for example, the Toyota Prius and Hyundai Ioniq have such similar side profiles.” Mr. McIlroy wrote.

“But from this point on, there’s going to be such diversification in