The Batmobile is an iconic vehicle for one of the most popular superheroes. From the retro-futuristic convertible on the 60’s TV show, the Tumbler from the Nolan films and most recently the monster-muscle car creation from the Matt Reeves movies, and more, the Batmobile has undergone an interesting evolution. Here is why the next version should be electric.
This take will ruffle some feathers — or should I say chap some batwings? But it’s time for the Batmobile to be modernized with electric power, and there are some very practical crime-fighting reasons for doing so.
The vast majority of the time Batman is confined to handling threats within Gotham City. While he will do the occasional team-up with the Justice League to save the world, he isn’t utilizing the Batmobile for these global missions. Most sources estimate that the fictional city of Gotham is roughly 300 square miles, and Batman is not traversing the entire city when chasing down the bad guys. With most modern EVs offering a range between 250-300 miles, a fully charged Batmobile will have plenty of juice to help our caped crusader dispense justice and return to Wayne manor. Of course, an off-the-lot EV probably won’t be what Mr. Wayne uses he will likely modify the battery pack for more range/power to suit his needs just as he would a gas-powered Batmobile
Speaking of power, when chasing down the Joker, Penguin, or any of the rogue’s gallery of Gotham antagonists, the Batmobile needs to cover ground as quickly as possible. Previous Batmobiles have used some combination of either high-displacement gas motors possibly with forced induction or jet-powered engines, both of are going to burn fuel at a seriously rapid rate. Since Batman doesn’t have time to stop for gas, an electric motor offers hypercar levels of acceleration instantly. If Mr. Wayne were able to source the propulsion system from the $2.2-million Rimac Nevera, he would have a Batmobile that could get to 60 miles per hour in under two seconds. He would be able to cover a lot of city blocks within a blink of an eye.
Also, having a lot of onboard electric power would make it easier for Batman to hook up all kinds of Bat-accessories from offensive weapons to countermeasures to communications and surveillance tools. As we have seen in several films, it’s always good for the Batmobile to have some extra tricks up its sleeve. The massive battery packs could help deploy nets or grappling hooks, perhaps even some kind of cloaking device.
While we are on the topic of disappearing, the most obvious reason why the Batmobile should be an EV is because it will be quiet. Batman is essentially a ninja, in various canon Bruce Wayne’s training comes from ninjas or “ninja-like” organizations. Batman’s whole thing is “adopting the dark” and slipping in and out of the shadows. That is what makes him terrifying to criminals because he can be anywhere. So why would he want a vehicle that the bad guys can hear from across town? EVs can run in almost near silence, like a ninja.
It will be interesting to see how the upcoming DC Universe handles the Batmobile, and I suspect they will stick with something loud and mean that works great on the screen but is not the most ideal solution for the Dark Knight.
Tom McParland is a contributing writer for Jalopnik and runs AutomatchConsulting.com. He takes the hassle out of buying or leasing a car. Got a car buying question? Send it to Tom@AutomatchConsulting.com