Mercedes Design Boss Predicts The Future Of EVs

A recent EV trend is here to stay, according to Mercedes' head designer.

The Mercedes EQC represents the German automaker's first fully electric vehicle. Taking the form of an electric compact SUV, the EQC boasts a sleek design and two electric motors producing a combined 408 horsepower and 560 lb-ft of torque.

Given the unrelenting popularity of SUVs and crossovers, it comes as no surprise that automakers are capitalizing on this demand in the EV segment. Jaguar's first production EV was the I-Pace SUV and BMW is developing an electric version of the X3 called the iX3, as well as a production version of the iNext flagship SUV.

But while Mercedes is planning to expand its electric EQ range outside of the SUV segment, Mercedes-Benz design boss Gordon Wagener believes more EVs in the future will adopt SUV-style designs with raised ride heights to accommodate the battery packs under the floor.

"If you look at electric cars, you're adding a battery that's probably six inches in height," the design boss told Autocar. "But even six inches can make a car more SUV-like from the off. I think we will see more of that." While this allows for more space to package the batteries, the aerodynamics will inevitably suffer.

After the EQC, Mercedes is planning to take on the Tesla Model Y with two electric crossovers: the EQA and EQB, which will essentially be electric versions of the Mercedes GLA and GLB. Don't think that Mercedes is focusing exclusively on electric crossovers and SUVs, however, because the German automaker is also developing a production version of the Vision EQS, which will serve as the automaker's flagship electric sedan.

Mercedes seemingly has a very different philosophy to Volkswagen when it comes to the future of EV design. While Mercedes thinks future EVs will have high-riding, SUV-style designs, VW's ID.Space Vizzion envisions an electric wagon that sits lower to the ground to improve the aerodynamics.