Do androids dream of electric cars?
Hollywood sci-fi movies have featured some seriously cool electric vehicles ‒ but could we ever drive something similar? We pit fantasy against reality
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
Despite being perceived as a late 20th century invention, electric vehicles actually predate the moving picture by four years. Thomas Parker invented the first commercially practical electric car in 1884 in Wolverhampton while Louis Le Prince showed Roundhay Garden, the first motion picture, to a Leeds audience in 1888.
The British quickly shovelled both successes out of the country so that Americans could become wealthy, of course, but curiously the two inventions took a while to meet. Indeed, the first big mainstream flicks to convince us that we might one day give up our addiction to burning the fossilised remains of ancient plants were released by the likes of Steve Spielberg, Ridley Scott and James Cameron in the later 1900s.
But how realistic was their portrayal of electric-powered cars? And more importantly, which ones were the coolest? Read on for our Hollywood EV Top Trumps, which should settle the matter once and for all...
Spinners ‒ Blade Runner 2049
An LAPD electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) flying car used by Ryan Gosling’s officer K in his long hunt for Harrison Ford’s paranoid Deckard.
Range anxiety: 0/10. Powered by ‘quantum batteries’, it can fly seemingly for hours over cities and through the derelict halls of an abandoned Las Vegas.
Cool factor: 8/10 Deliberately boxy 1980s design compensated for by flying ability, interior display and Gosling/Harrison piloting past.
Features we want: Flying. Obvs.
Resemblance to reality: Some ‒ eVTOL taxis are in trials at Heathrow right now.
M577 APC – Aliens
This United States Colonial Marine Corps lightweight armoured vehicle is ideal for troop transport and capable of being deployed by a dropship.
Range anxiety: 2. The M577 doesn’t have to worry about running out of power, thanks to its own multi-fuel gas turbine that can generate electricity when the batteries are low. Sadly the vehicle is hampered by its vulnerability to acidic blood pumped from Xenomorph aliens in high-velocity collisions.
Cool factor: 7. At 3.38m wide, it takes up a lot of motorway and is terrible in built up areas but useful for making things explode.
Features we want: There’s plenty of space if you ditch the three-days worth of ammunition, plus a rotary observation turret and autopilot.
Resemblance to reality: Unlikely to inspire creators of your everyday commuter vehicle.
Light Cycle – Tron: Legacy
Light vehicle resembling a motorcycle with protective canopy and driver-specific colour scheme.
Range anxiety: 0, in gameworld where liquid electricity is on tap. (10 in the real world as it has no energy storage system.)
Cool factor: 5. Can only move in straight lines, corner at 90-degree angles and irritates other road users by leaving a trail of blinding light in its wake.
Features we want: Ability to dissolve when no longer needed (saves on parking), all the glowing lights, outrageous acceleration.
Resemblance to reality: Has been available from Parker Brothers as the Neutron Electric Motorcycle in a very limited-edition of 25 bikes per year. Starting price $55,000 (£46,000).
Audi RSQ – I, Robot
Back when Will Smith was battling robots rather than stand-up comedians, the Chicago Police Department issued him with this sporty little coupe.
