The internal combustion engine has existed for over a century and during that time has created some of the most characterful, exciting, visceral and involving driving experiences. Due to this a global genre of people known as ‘Petrolhead’s’ has emerged over time. In a fast changing automotive world where electric vehicles are making an ever greater prescence, soon will come a time where the combustion engine is no longer being used as the basis for new cars. This future creates an obvious dilemma. What will Petrolhead’s do? In the name of progress EV’s make sense.

honda ev

They could get to a stage of being far more practical as a daily than a combustion engine alternative. Plus from the EV’s produced so far (Tesla Model S P100D) they have the technology to be quicker in acceleration than the fastest fuel powered cars on the planet. This means your future EV equivalent of a daily hatchback could be quicker than an old school hypercar. Although this sounds very impressive and very appealing, due to the lack of combustion engine there will be no noise, no rawness or character. It will be a clinical experience in the eyes of a Petrolhead, where’s the fun in that? Where is the sense of occasion?

honda ev

Fifteen years ago a film was released called I, Robot. It was set in the year 2035, less than two decades from now! Aside from the film majoring on the idea of robotics the idea of how people got from A to B wasn't a far off prediction of how major automotive companies are thinking currently. Audi were a heavy contributor to the film featuring their concept car, the RSQ which Will Smith's character drove. Back to present day and the looks of the Audi R8 supercar is heavily inspired by that concept.

All the cars in I, Robot were extremely fast autonomous EV’s with the function of manual override so the individual could take control of the car. In present day companies such as Tesla are already creating technology allowing their cars to drive themselves on motorways. The overall persona of amazing future EV’s is very exciting but they have strong potential to leave Petrolhead’s feeling like something is missing, ‘The Driving Experience’.

Referring back to the film, there is a scene where all the electric cars lose their power, Everyone has essentially broken down. Will Smiths character who is very old school, who doesn't like robotics nor the electrified, autonomous lifestyle secretly has an element of the past stored away. A 2004 MV Agusta F4-SPR Superbike, a rare machine of speed propelled by a liquid called petrol. When everyones EV is defunct he uses his Agusta, flying through the chaos that is the failed electrified, autonomous world.

Obviously this is all very Hollywood but the essence of why he has got an old petrol powered Superbike hidden away for occasional use is very relatable to how Petrolhead’s might have to adapt in order to ‘fuel’ their addiction in the future. Have a daily EV which potentially is extremely capable, fast, practical and cheap to run, a logical commuter perhaps. Then stashed away in your garage is your combustion engined indulgence. Something to revel in at the weekends. It may not be that quick compared to your EV but it will give you the driving experience fix that an EV simply can’t match. Or EVs could become so advanced that they mimic the sounds and feel of an old school fuel powered legend. Can EV’s satisfy Petrolhead’s and give a nostalgic ‘driving experience’? Will Petrolhead’s become Electrichead’s?