Key Takeaways
1. Capacitive controls on car screens are less effective for drivers reaching without looking.
2. Criticism of capacitive controls has affected acceptance of electric vehicles, especially among traditional car users.
3. Volkswagen’s head of design, Andreas Mindt, admitted that in-car capacitive controls were a “mistake.”
4. Volkswagen plans to reinstate physical controls for five key functions, including fan speed and media volume.
5. The ID. 2all, Volkswagen’s upcoming electric vehicle, will feature the new user interface with physical controls.
Capacitive controls can work well when they are on a smartphone screen that you can see, but they are not as effective when they are on a car’s main screen and you are reaching for them without looking while driving.
These controls have received a lot of criticism for several Volkswagen models in recent years, and this could hinder the acceptance of the electric vehicles, especially for those who are not ready to leave their traditional gas-powered cars behind.
Acknowledging the Issue
Andreas Mindt, the head of design at Volkswagen, has recently confessed that having those in-car controls was a “mistake” and that they will “never, ever” do it again.
Mindt says the company plans to bring back physical controls for five key functions in cars: fan speed, heating for both the driver and front seat passenger, media volume, and hazard lights. These will be located on the steering wheel and at the bottom of the main display.
The Future of Volkswagen’s EVs
The first vehicle to feature this new user interface will be the ID. 2all, which is Volkswagen’s upcoming electric vehicle that is expected to cost around $30,000. Consequently, its more affordable successor, the ID. Every1, may also adopt this change when it launches.
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