Carefree family holidays in an electric vehicle

The most important question before the holidays is probably the same for families with both combustion and electric vehicles: is there enough room for all our kit and caboodle? From bulky child seats and buggies to clothes, toys, swimwear, nappies and baby feeding equipment, all sorts of things have to be stowed in a family car, yet without leaving passengers feeling cramped.

There’s good news for electric vehicle drivers: there's more than enough space, especially in the passenger compartment. Since the battery is located in the underbody of the electric vehicle and the compact e-motor on the front and/or rear axle, the vehicle's space can be better utilised. As a result, passengers have more legroom, which also improves drive comfort – and also minimises the risk of children complaining on long journeys.

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) also provide sufficient storage space for a lot of luggage. AMAG family electric vehicles – the VW ID.4 SUV, the Audi e-tron SUV and the Škoda Enyaq iV SUV – all offer a boot space of over 540 litres, which is generally sufficient for the amount of luggage required by the average family, including a buggy. Various spacious storage compartments designed for small items of luggage and specific things that are needed throughout a journey – such as snacks, drinks and entertainment media – have also been incorporated throughout the entire passenger compartment.

Did you know? Sufficient entertainment is also provided when travelling in any of AMAG’s electric SUVs, all of which offer generous information and entertainment features. Whether it’s rear-seat screens or USB and WLAN connections suitable for smartphones and tablets – there’s certainly no shortage of things for children to do, such as playing games, watching films or listening to music. And should your mobile phone’s battery suddenly die, the Škoda Enyaq iV even features two USB-C connections and a 230-V plug for rear passengers to use. 

In addition to all these electronic gadgets and gizmos, you can still play all the traditional travel games while in your electric vehicle, such as “I spy”: thanks to the quiet driving style, electric vehicles are significantly quieter inside than combustion vehicles, even on the motorway. 

Ranges are increasing, charging apps help find charging stations

Plenty of space, hardly any noise: travelling in an electric vehicle is a very relaxed affair. However, drivers can also be relaxed about supposedly stressful issues such as range and recharging. Lots has changed in this regard in recent years. The charging infrastructure throughout Europe is being continuously expanded, and the range offered by electrical vehicles is always improving. For example, all AMAG family cars have a range exceeding 400 kilometres, which makes weekend stays in the mountains and Ticino, as well as trips to surrounding holiday regions such as Bavaria, South Tyrol or Burgundy possible – even without needing to recharge. 

However, when taking trips further afield such as to Tuscany, the south of France or Spain that require charging breaks, there's still no reason to worry: useful tools help to plan the route and suitable charging stops, including the route planners ABRP and PUMP. Several car manufacturers also offer their own apps: Audi drivers can make the most of the practical e-tron Charging Service, which provides access to 220,000 charging stations across 16 European countries. VW offers a similar service with the We Charge app, while Škoda offers the Powerpass app. Another benefit of these apps: it’s possible to pay for the charging process at the same time.

Benefit from the rapid-charging network

In principle, the 20/80 rule applies for charging: do not go below 20 percent range remaining and do not charge over 80 percent – this will extend the life of the battery, as we have already learned from smartphones. Tip: why not charge your vehicle while enjoying a comfort or lunch break? At rapid-charging stations, such as those provided by the IONITY network, it only takes around half an hour to “fill up” the battery; all charging apps provided by AMAG brands are compatible with IONITY. Their charging stations are located along the principle traffic arteries in Germany, en route to the south of France and also on the way to the Adriatic Sea, among other places. The options are still somewhat thin on the ground in Spain, however. 

Once you’ve reached your holiday destination, charging stations can often be found at hotels and campsites. Don’t forget: to be on the safe side, take different charging plugs with you so that you can charge at as many stations as possible. For charging capacities up to 22 kW, a type 2 plug is generally used, while the CCS Combo or CHAdeMO plug is used when charging at 50 kW and above.

Electric vehicles are safe

For those who are now convinced about the space, range and charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, but are still sceptical about their safety: there's no reason for drivers of electric vehicles to worry on this point either. Electric vehicles can be considered safe since the battery is fitted to the underbody using a stable battery housing made of steel or aluminium, meaning that the battery remains undamaged even in the event of a violent collision. So far, there has been no evidence that electric vehicles burn faster than diesel or petrol vehicles. In the event of a collision, the high-voltage cable between the electric motor and the battery pack is also disconnected very quickly.

To summarise, family holidays in an electric vehicle are relaxed, safe and stress-free.