May 29, 2026
Handle with scare
EV Stupidity Checklist
Drivers are roasting “futuristic” EV features nobody asked for
TLDR: The article says many electric cars replaced simple, reliable controls with flashy screens and electronic gimmicks that are harder to use and sometimes less safe. Commenters mostly agreed—some angrily, some hilariously—with one bombshell note that China is banning some door-handle designs after reported rescue failures.
The article’s big accusation is deliciously simple: carmakers spent 100 years perfecting obvious stuff like door handles, mirrors, and gear selectors—then EVs arrived and everyone suddenly acted like opening a door needed a software update. The writer’s “stupidity checklist” calls out flashy-but-worse ideas like hidden handles, fully electronic door releases, giant touchscreens, and charge-port doors that behave like they’re auditioning for a sci-fi movie instead of just doing their job.
And the comments? Absolutely merciless. One of the strongest reactions came from people treating this less like design snobbery and more like a safety issue. Animats dropped the mic by noting China is banning retractable outside handles and electronic inside door handles in 2027 after incidents where people allegedly couldn’t get out or be rescued. That instantly turned the vibe from “ugh, annoying” to “wait, this is actually serious.”
But not everyone came to bury modern EVs. One Nissan Ariya owner basically said, my car passes the test, thank you very much, even while admitting the climate controls are the dreaded touch-sensitive kind. Others wanted a middle ground: keep the sleek handles if you must, but give people a clear backup and bring back the beloved PRNDL drive stalk. Meanwhile, the funniest comment of the thread came from a mirror loyalist who defended actual reflective glass over backup screens with a mini science lecture about “photons” and “the material world.” In other words: the community has spoken, and it would like its car to stop being smarter than it is.
Key Points
- •The article argues that some EV designs replace long-established automotive controls with less usable or less reliable alternatives.
- •It cites Tesla as an early influence on modern EV styling, including flush electronic door handles intended to make vehicles appear futuristic.
- •The article says touchscreen-heavy interiors can lower costs and add flexibility, but have proved unpopular and may reduce safety.
- •It states that battery cost is a dominant factor in EV pricing, contributing to pressure to simplify interior hardware.
- •The article proposes a checklist for car design that includes accessible door handles, mechanical door-release backups, clear affordances, physical charge-port door operation, and a turn-signal stalk.