Highlights of Fully Charged Live

The rise of Chinese EV brands

One of the many excellent live theatre sessions was called ‘Which car companies could end up in an electric graveyard?’

Dan Caesar hosted an expert panel including his Fully Charged China colleague Elliot Richards and Roger Atkins of Electric Vehicles Outlook Ltd .

Fresh from the Shanghai Auto Show, Elliot described the crowds and excitement surrounding the domestic brands’ stands - and the accompanying worried expressions on the faces of the many European auto execs in attendance.

Roger went further, praising the Chinese long-term strategy for the development of EVs and their associated technology, infrastructure and supply chain. He stated:

‘If you don’t have a battery strategy - preferably including your own battery factory - you’re toast’.

The session concluded with a straw poll. We were asked to stand up if we think that:

‘Three or more big car companies will have failed by 2030’.

OK, it was probably a somewhat biased crowd, but there was a surprising number of people on their feet.

比亚迪 was present at the show and for a lesser-known brand, especially in the UK, the stand was consistently busy.

I was pleasantly surprised by the (at least perceived) build quality and materials of the Dolphin, which will launch in the UK later in 2023.?

Sadly the new sodium-ion battery-powered Seagull electric supermini wasn’t present. That will take EV pricing pressure a big step further if it ever arrives at our shores.

The entire show carried an underlying sense that BYD and many of the other currently little-known Chinese EV brands will be huge as they expand into the US, Europe and the UK.

BIG pick-ups

It was great to see both the Rivian R1T and 福特 F-150 Lightning in the metal. Both are available to hire in the UK through the exhibitor EVision Electric Vehicles (H.E Group) .

I’ve lived in the US, so I’m very familiar with the size of American vehicles - SUVs and pick-up trucks in particular. However, seeing them in the UK, alongside the vehicles we regularly see on our roads was breathtaking. The F-150 is HUGE!

For perspective, here are some quotes from EVision to help prepare their customers for just quite how big these vehicles are (the emphasis in italics is my own):

The Rivian R1T is a big vehicle. However, the size does not affect the performance of the truck. With a battery that is three times the size of the average electric car battery, the Rivian R1T can achieve a real-world range of around 250 miles.

The Ford F-150 Lightning has a 400-litre frunk which becomes an ice store for camping trips, and contains an anti-kidnap button and light. You know that the frunk space is going to be big if you need an anti-kidnap device installed.

Tech features

Every car brand wants to include features that will help its new model stand out. Especially the premium ones that need to differentiate themselves and justify their elevated price points. These value-added features can also be profitable optional extras. Here are a couple I noticed at the show.

The 2023 Genesis GV60 will be:

‘The first car in the world to feature pioneering face recognition technology as part of biometric vehicle entry and engine start’.

The Face Connect feature gives customers the ability to access their car using their face alone. They’ll then be able to start the car using their fingerprint.

The benefit is that owners can leave their car keys behind should they wish - ideal for outdoor activities such as swimming, climbing, or running, where carrying a physical key can be inconvenient.

Genesis stresses that at no point is biometric data uploaded and stored remotely. It’ll be interesting to see whether people will accept and trust this tech - that has become familiar on their smartphones - on their cars.

The aero features of the Group Lotus Eletre Hyper SUV seemed to be what caught most visitors’ attention when looking around this amazing new car. Many were testing the design's signature ‘porosity’ by inserting their hands into the apertures. Perhaps rehearsing what it’ll be like to clean?

But the detail that caught my eye is tucked away in the trunk, beyond the luxury and bling. It’s an inauspicious button to lower the rear of the car, and thus the boot lip height for easier loading. This utilises the car’s air suspension system which allows up to 75mm adjustment for the ground clearance; it will sink down to reduce drag at motorway speeds, or raise up if you’re on a rough track.

I’m not sure a 75mm drop will make a huge difference when loading shopping bags full of groceries (or perhaps more likely, designer fashion), but it was interesting to see the inclusion of a (somewhat) practical feature that makes use of the car's trick suspension.

Geometric tactility

Three years ago I led a design trends project that identified a detail trend that we called ‘Geometric tactility’. As the name suggests, it’s a repeated mathematically derived geometric pattern used to add decorative grip and tactility. It often shows up as a diamond pattern, akin to knurling.

Perhaps I’m attuned to it, due to this previous work; but it’s one of those things where once you spot it, you see it everywhere. It’s being used abundantly right now by multiple brands, from mainstream to luxury. It’s mainly applied to rotary dials and other switchgear, but is also prevalent on interior surfaces in general.

Smiles per mile

The form and scale of the Swiss Microlino electric bubble car can't help but bring a grin to your face. The details you discover as you explore the vehicle further keep it there.

I love the combined light/door mirror pods, but my absolute favourite feature is the Sport mode button - complete with Nintendo’s Bullet Bill strapped to the roof!

There doesn’t seem to be much of a lighthearted, playful, or even friendly vibe around in car design at the moment. The Microlino is a refreshing and welcome antidote to all the ‘more is more’ physical scale, weight and aggressive styling.

Test drives

It was great to see the Polestar 3 in the flesh. I initially wondered why staff were offering visitors an iPad with the same impressive augmented reality app that I saw at the Polestar Studio in Battersea recently. Then I realised that it was an exterior model with no interior - apparently one of only four in the world. Kudos to Polestar for bringing it to Fully Charged Live.

It was good to be able to try the Tesla Model Y and Polestar 2 back-to-back, on lengthy, unaccompanied test drives, which were facilitated by a slick iPad-initiated driving license check.

I found both cars pleasant enough. The Tesla feels different from a conventional car with its stripped-back, button-less layout. Conversely, the Polestar feels very familiar; for the large part replicating the interior of a traditional ICE vehicle. Although in different ways, both left me wanting more character.

My biggest surprise was the extent of the regenerative braking - true one-pedal driving. Each model has three settings, allowing you to reduce the effect to something more akin to engine braking. Only the Polestar enables it to be switched off entirely, allowing you to coast, as if in neutral.

Of course, keeping it in its most powerful mode increases range - useful in real life and for the headline figures used for marketing.

I’m sure I’d get used to it and adapt my driving accordingly, but both cars initially made me feel a little car sick. A quick bit of online research suggests I’m not alone. The acceleration and regenerative braking are stated as the main contributory factors, but also the lack of familiar noise and vibration.

One unexpected benefit of the regenerative braking was highlighted by the Polestar rep, who explained that a pair of brake pads can last 80k miles! Good for the wallet and the environment.

I'll drive it home

I've saved my biggest surprise at the show until last. It was a humble, used, three-year-old Honda e.

Yes, it only has a real-world range of around 100 miles. And yes, it still costs around twenty grand used. And I’ve been less than kind about the translation of the exterior from concept to production (sorry Honda).

But the interior is wonderful: modern and minimal, yet friendly, welcoming and characterful. A Mini or Fiat 500 without the pastiche. A small car, but with a spacious-feeling interior, thanks in part to its flat floor.

My mate Martin Miller , Founder of EV Experts Ltd who was showing a broad range of used EVs, including the little Honda, described it as:

‘The best car to be in if you want to be let out at junctions.’

It’s easy to see why, but I bet that’s a requirement that’s never made it into a car design brief!

I wanted to drive it home - and luckily, like 99% of the show-goers I suspect - I live close enough for the range not to be an issue…

Image credits: Fully Charged, John M. Vincent, Genesis, Lotus, Car Magazine, Microlino, Polestar, Honda