We have so many spacious and boxy ICE SUVs, but most EV SUVs look kind of flattened. They’re more like SUV coupes or giant sedans with a hatch.
I need space for big boxes—not heavy, just large. Only the EV9 seems to have enough vertical space in the back for what I need. But most EV SUVs lose room because of the sloped back, so I can’t store anything over a foot tall near the rear.
Why aren’t there more boxy EV SUVs out there?
Height is terrible for aerodynamics. By extending the length instead of the height, they can add more battery capacity without sacrificing range too much. Range anxiety is still a big obstacle to EV adoption, so they try to maximize every mile they can get.
@kwame
The extra length might actually reduce drag a bit. It’s been a while since I studied aerodynamics, but I know that’s how it works with ships—lengthening the hull can make a ship slightly faster, so I suspect the same for cars in the air.
@emma
I think it depends on a few factors. While generally true, there’s a point where extending the length starts to increase drag instead of lowering it. And you’d also need to taper it to reduce the wake size, which is important, though I’m fuzzy on the details too.
@Kenneth
Yes, that’s true. Tapering is necessary to avoid airflow separation, which creates turbulence and ultimately drag. My memory is rusty on this too—it’s been about 25-30 years and English isn’t my first language, so I blame any mistakes on those! 
@emma
Water dynamics differ due to wake interactions. For ships, you hit a hull speed limit because the bow and stern wakes interact. I don’t think this is as impactful in air.
jeff said:
@emma
Water dynamics differ due to wake interactions. For ships, you hit a hull speed limit because the bow and stern wakes interact. I don’t think this is as impactful in air.
Water is about 800x denser than air, so it’s definitely more impactful. But both are fluid dynamics, and drag is largely caused by turbulence around sharp corners. Planes and cars also create wakes.
Edit: here’s more info - Numerical analysis on effect of vehicle length on automotive aerodynamic drag | IET Conference Publication | IEEE Xplore
@kwame
It’s more than anxiety; it’s a real issue, especially for larger EVs meant for family road trips.
Maria said:
@kwame
It’s more than anxiety; it’s a real issue, especially for larger EVs meant for family road trips.
Whether it’s real or not, if people think it’s an issue, it affects their decision. And most buyers in the U.S. do think it’s an issue.
@jabali
It’s definitely a real issue, though maybe not as overwhelming as it’s made out to be. Switching to an EV does require adapting to things we don’t have to think about as much with gas cars.
Yes, you still need to monitor gas levels, but on any major road, a gas station is usually within reach. With EVs, you need to know where chargers are, if they’re compatible, if they’re working, if there’s a line, and whether you need an app. At home, you need a good setup, or you’re back at public chargers.
Over time, you get familiar with your EV’s needs, find preferred stations, download the right apps, and get the hang of it all. But for a lot of people, that initial learning curve is a dealbreaker, especially when they’re used to gas stations on every corner.
@jessicah
As a European, I forget how easy we have it:
We also usually have a good home setup with three-phase power, so no need for regular public charging.
@jabali
If more people were buying, we’d see more charging infrastructure. But government incentives still play a big role in EV purchases; without them, demand might drop.
Maria said:
@jabali
If more people were buying, we’d see more charging infrastructure. But government incentives still play a big role in EV purchases; without them, demand might drop.
Ever heard of fossil fuel subsidies? They’re older than any of us, so they don’t make headlines, but they’re massive. Look it up; every Western government pays billions to fossil fuel producers annually.
Maria said:
@kwame
It’s more than anxiety; it’s a real issue, especially for larger EVs meant for family road trips.
When the charging infrastructure improves, it won’t be such an issue.
Maria said:
@kwame
It’s more than anxiety; it’s a real issue, especially for larger EVs meant for family road trips.
It’s not a real issue, just anti-EV noise.
Maria said:
@kwame
It’s more than anxiety; it’s a real issue, especially for larger EVs meant for family road trips.
It’s not a real issue, just anti-EV noise.
It’s real, though. People are so inundated with range concerns that it creates genuine stress. My mother and sister both felt this way.
I have an EV6, which I use for everything, even long trips, with no issues. But when my sister needed to borrow it, she was panicked about the range, even though I fully charged it. She’d never go below 50% but still worried the whole time.
Even people open to EVs are affected by the negative messaging around range.
@Robert
You’re right; “range anxiety” is more psychological than practical in most cases.
Christopher said:
@Robert
You’re right; “range anxiety” is more psychological than practical in most cases.
Exactly. The limitations might not be so real, but the anxiety sure is. It’ll take time to overcome.
@Robert
People react similarly with ICE vehicles. Some buy big trucks for the occasional heavy haul instead of thinking about daily needs.
Maria said:
@kwame
It’s more than anxiety; it’s a real issue, especially for larger EVs meant for family road trips.
It’s not a real issue, just anti-EV noise.
I’ve found that charging stops don’t happen much more often than bathroom breaks. I take a 9-hour drive every six weeks; if I’m solo, I stop once for charging. With family, we stop 2-3 times, and only one is for charging.