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All-electric vehicles (EVs) are the future, but not everyone likes them. Of course, there are good reasons for not doing so, but they’re also some bad ones, such as saying they lack the ‘soul’ of internal-combustion (ICE) vehicles.
Yep, that argument is often peddled by some so-called enthusiasts who feel EVs couldn’t possibly measure up to ICE vehicles, which they claim have ‘soul’.
But the problem with that is, well, ICE vehicles don’t have ‘soul’ either. The truth is, no form of transport has had soul since the heyday of the horse and cart – you know, because horses actually have souls.
Now, I know that is a very literal counterargument, but it speaks to the ridiculousness of the negative position particular people takes towards EVs.
After all, EVs and ICE vehicles are almost incomparable. Simply put, they aren’t the same, so a direct comparison between the two is myopic.
I do, of course, understand that when ICE diehards talk about ‘soul’, they’re generally referring to the noises made by an engine or exhaust, which EVs naturally lack.
Or maybe they’re even referencing the mechanical feel of an ICE vehicle’s transmission, as they enjoy changing gears while driving – but they’re also largely among the vast majority that stopped buying manual gearboxes a while ago, so go figure.
Anyway, it’s clear the goalposts have moved – and they will continue to do so – so EVs shouldn’t be judged by the standards of ICE vehicles.
And having been lucky enough to have driven plenty of EVs and ICE vehicles over the years, I can honestly say I look forward to getting behind the wheel of the former more.
Take this week for example. I spent the weekend in a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4, which is arguably one of the best ICE vehicles to be released in the past two years.
The GT4 is the stuff of enthusiasts’ dreams. It’s so raw, pure and stunningly telepathic to drive. Needless to say, I absolutely love it.
But I was still more than happy to hand the Porsche keys back and get into my next test vehicle, a Hyundai Ioniq 5.
In my estimate, the stunning Ioniq 5 is the most complete mainstream EV we’ve seen yet, owing to Hyundai’s dedicated platform that’s short on compromises.
Many will scoff at me mentioning the GT4 and Ioniq 5 in the same proverbial breath, but they’re enjoyable in their own ways.
The Ioniq 5 may have a modest power output of 225kW, but its dual-motor powertrain serves up the kind of hard-hitting acceleration that’s typically been the reserve of Tesla models.
And the GT4 and its 309kW 4.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol boxer six-cylinder engine is also magical, screaming all the way to its outrageous redline that’s so easy to fall in love with.
I’m going to resist the temptation to give you a mini review of each model, but hopefully you see where I’m coming from: each brings something different – and fun – to the table.
I can’t think of too many who would double-down on the ‘no soul’ argument after actually driving an EV, because it’s so easy to criticise what you don’t understand – until you do.
And for those that still think EVs are soft, I encourage them to find someone with the keys to a Porsche Taycan.
Ironically, the Taycan’s main slogan is ‘Soul, electrified’ (Porsche clearly knows its clientele), but it is one of the most memorable vehicles I have ever driven.
It’s hard to put into words how unreal driving the Taycan is, but if you combine the ludicrous acceleration of certain Tesla models with physics-defying handling, you get the idea.
Once you’ve stuck the boot in a few times and gone around a corner or two in a Taycan, come and tell me again EVs don’t have ‘soul’. I suspect you won’t.
And shouldn’t enthusiasts find the beauty in any vehicle? Again, what we drive and how we drive it has changed a lot over the years…
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