Nine things that would make electric cars easier to love

EV's are starting to spark more imagination but still have a way to go.

As more electric vehicles make their way to Australia, interest and public discourse on these new-age motoring alternatives is rising fast. Whether it's government dragging the chain on an all-electric future or opposition parties voicing their plans for an all-electric or at least partial electric car future, we know that this discussion is sure to continue for some time.

We’ve tried and tested many electric vehicles and are big advocates of them, especially of the car brands that get it right. But unfortunately, so many others don’t get it right and range isn’t even the biggest issue. Here are nine things car brands could do to make electric cars so easy to love that even the biggest coal-loving V12 driver would want to make the switch.

Design interiors that don’t look like an attempt to recreate the ship from Star Trek

For some reason, car designers have been instructed to give the eco-friendly versions of their products a futuristic look, my question is why is the future a 1980s sci-fi reference? Light greys and teal have no place in a car interior, stick to the sporty and slick designs we have come to know and prefer. Also, can we please have a gear shifter that isn’t modelled off the hyper drive lever?

Sell vehicles with normal exterior colours which are more vibrant and easier to describe

There is nothing wrong with a nice red, blue or even silver paint job, so why add a non-metallic whitegoods style colour to your offering? Also it is preferable that when you do go to tell someone which car is yours, you’d rather say “It is the bright blue car” rather than “It’s the slightly off grey, teal green with the silver bumpers”.

Make sure the vehicle has a smiley face grille like internal-combustion (petrol and diesel) cars

model 3 performance red front motion sf skyline 1 3y65

Okay, this request is a bit left of centre but hear me out. There’s something almost human like about a car’s front grille. The combination of the headlights, air intake grille and brand logo come together to lend the car almost a face and personality. The long word for this is anthropomorphism. Electric vehicles don’t need the same air intake as petrol or diesel counterparts, plus it increases aerodynamics by not having one. But c’mon, it needs a nice smiley face.

Sell them at a CHEAPER PRICE! OMG WHY ARE THEY SO MUCH?

This one might not be entirely the fault of the car brands as new tech does cost a lot, but when you’re comparing the price of the petrol vs electric version of the same car and the price difference is more than $20k, you know the choice is easy. Hybrids have found a way to come down in price and Toyota have smartly integrated them into their line-up with a much smaller price gap. Until that price comes down, this discount bargain loving nation isn’t going electric.

Related: ADVICE: Why are electric cars so expensive?

Offer more model grade variants – why am I paying so much money for fabric seats

Speaking of the price not being quite right, some electric cars touting $50k + price tags for vehicles the same size as a small hatchback come with only fabric interiors and are missing some key lux items we have come to expect.

Fun loud engine noises

This one is more to keep the sports-car fans happy and the un-attentive pedestrians safe. The ability to give the car some really exciting purring and exhaust tunes would be welcomed by all.

Related: Silent killer: New audible warning for electric cars developed

Give the cars cooler names

No more ‘e’ or ‘I’ or ‘blue’ or electricity puns thank you! We get it, the vehicle is eco-friendly and an awesome piece of technology, but can we please have a cool, exciting name? Even the traditional cars we know like Corolla, Focus, Prado, Megane etc have somewhat interesting names. The Leaf has a little way to go.

Refer to electric cars in advertising the same way as other vehicles

Why discriminate and act differently around an electric car because it is a little different from what you’re used to. You can’t change who you are. As much as people want to help the environment and be technology trend setters, the reality of it all is that we just want to fit in, feel like we’re cool and that the vehicles gets us from A to B in the easiest, pain-free and enjoyable way possible. No technical rubbish!

An easier way to re-charge the thing

Making it easier and faster to charge and ‘re-fuel’ the car in an actual convenient place – unlike a shopping centre or council head office car park – would be ideal. One idea floating around the office was an inductive charging pad for the floor of your garage. If a smartphone can do it, why not a car?