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Are you one of those people who are very particular or specific about designs? Aesthetics are a must for you, you look out to the satisfying feeling it inculcates within you. When you come across a product and it’s like, yes! that’s it. Well, brands are aware of customers’ impulses. And so, they comprehend the need and empower their target audience with what they seek. 

A similar picture is mirrored in the Electric Vehicles landscape. With the enormous push towards this environment-friendly ICE alternative, for a greener world, automobile manufacturers are going all out to set the design at par with its ICE counterparts. 

Whitespace for manufacturers 

The flourishing EV transition has created a world of opportunities for designers, engineers, and manufacturers, allowing them to break conventions, think out of the box, and create new designs that push the boundaries of what’s possible. With robust changes to the powerhouse and drivetrain, the future of mobility is more exciting than ever before. The shift has manifested as revolutions in several vehicle subsystems either as system-level changes or as signature design features. While India is in its nascent stage, if the beginning is so promising, the expectations for the future are too high. 

All about the grilles 

Have you noticed the grilles on ICEs? Don’t they simply enhance the overall look of the vehicle? EVs don’t really need radiator grills since they don’t require an external airflow to cool down a roasting engine. However, many are equipped with grilles, majorly because we are used to seeing them on the front of gas guzzlers. Automakers like Tesla, Kia, and Hyundai have removed them from their EVs design, keeping a small grille space under the bumper instead. The old Model S of Tesla had it just for the aesthetic looks and to give an impression to the people that their cars have grilles (fake grilles).  

There is a lot of debate happening around grilles yay or grilles nay. Looks are subjective and there are certainly two crews, one in favour of the grille, whereas the other sans it. But if we dig deeper, do EVs really don’t need grilles? In fact, EVs can go for vented grilles, saving grams of plastic and input costs, and they anyway really do add to the personality of cars. 

Audi’s designers apparently are in no mood to abandon grilles anytime soon, it’s part of the brand’s styling identity. While Audi is not trading its highly identifiable single-frame grille design, certain manufacturers argue that it is redundant for cars without engines, despite its distinctiveness. Adding on, MG eZS has smartly retained the grille design just like the conventional counterpart. 

While some manufacturers chose to eliminate the grill altogether, resulting in an unusual appearance, others added faux grilles to appease customers but overlooked a wealth of design options. For eg- Fiat 500 is an example of how makers are making a choice of not depending on front grilles and creating catchy yet subtle designs. 

Is it really about creating new and unique products for brands? 

It’s probably all about creating design identities. Tapping into the constantly evolving consumer behaviour, regional exclusivities, and industry trends, and then commingling it with the company’s mission is a tedious and expensive process, therefore, the company may be looking for a cost-effective design solution that can be applied to a wide range of products. 

The perks of incorporating grilles into EV design

Grilles in EVs serve several important functions. First and foremost, they provide ventilation for the battery pack and electric motor. EVs generate a significant amount of heat during operation, which can reduce battery life and efficiency if not properly managed. Grilles help to dissipate this heat and prevent damage to the battery and motor.

Second, grills can also serve as an aerodynamic feature, helping to reduce air resistance and improve the vehicle’s overall efficiency. This is particularly important for EVs, where efficiency is critical to maximizing the vehicle’s range.

Also, grilles can play a role in the overall design and aesthetic appeal of the vehicle. They can be used to create a distinctive look or to convey a specific brand identity, and that’s what we are majorly talking about here.

Why are some car makers avoiding or minimizing grilles in EVs?

Since EVs have different cooling needs compared to traditional counterparts, EVs produce relatively less heat and don’t require as much airflow to cool their engines, which implies they don’t need as large or as many grilles. 

Additionally, the sleek and futuristic designs that many electric cars have adopted, do not include a prominent grille, as it is not as necessary for the car’s functionality and may disrupt the overall appeal. 

Also, manufacturers are exploring alternative methods to cool EVs, like using heat pumps, which can further reduce the requirement for traditional grilles. 

Finding a Balance between the old and new

It has taken a considerable amount of time for EVs to become a common sight on the road, and as sales have reached an appropriate standard, more people are getting inclined towards it. With EVs foraying into the market in good numbers, and new advancements continually emerging, it would be right to say that old and new designs will converge and reshape the features with which they work. Whether to keep grilles or discard the feature, entirely depends on the automakers. Every which way, they will have to play around with the design.