[ELI5] Why do electric cars have a similar shape to regular cars when they don’t need to?

Question

I’ve always wondered why electric cars are designed to resemble regular cars so closely, even though they don’t require the same components like the internal combustion engine. It seems like this would be an opportunity to create a more practical and efficient design. Can someone explain why electric cars are shaped the way they are?

In: 7

Answer 1

The main reason is aerodynamic drag. Old-fashioned cars are already designed to be as efficient at moving through the air as possible. EV’s can be improved slightly, as they don’t need to force air through a grill to cool an engine, but the basic body shape remains the same because it’s already the most optimal shape.