[Gravityloss]

For some reason, almost all pure electric cars have resembled traditional front engined cars with a long hood. Form has not yet followed function. Just like early automobiles looked like horse drawn carriages without the horses. It is frustrating how bad design must be in order to sell.

[cynicalkane]

These cars are famous for their design and they have the engine in the back:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Vo...

https://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/filepicker%2Ftr7FdygeTg64...

http://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2008/06/03/21/19/1985...

Cars feel better to drive when the driver is near the car's physical center, or the center of gravity, preferably both.

[flyinglizard]

In these cars, the trunk just swapped places with the engine, and the front was sometimes used for radiators.

In purpose built electric cars, both the upper rear and upper front of the vehicle are free from components, everything drivetrain related sits below the passengers, so you could have two trunks (like Model S) or just cut the overhangs altogether.

[jzwinck]

Go on, tell us what sorts of shapes you'd rather see. One thing to note: the hood is not just a place to store the engine, but a place to absorb kinetic energy in a crash, so it serves a vital function even if full of luggage.

[Gravityloss]

True, but with modern materials and design you don't need such big zones. This is somewhat related, a big old car vs a new small one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBDyeWofcLY