Electric Vehicles & Packing: Maximising Cargo Space in EVs

The battery pack in most EVs sits in the floor, beneath the passenger compartment. This raises the floor slightly but means no transmission tunnel hump between rear passengers — making it easier to slide items across the rear footwell. It also means no fuel tank taking up underfloor space.

Most EVs replace the spare tyre (which would normally sit in a well beneath the boot floor) with an inflation kit or run-flat tyres. This is sometimes lamented by owners, but it has a significant benefit: the boot floor is completely flat from the tailgate forward, which is much better for loading large items.

A frunk (front trunk) is a storage compartment under the front bonnet — possible in EVs because there's no engine there. Some frunks are very useful (Kia EV6's 20L, Hyundai IONIQ 6's 12L). Some are token-sized and barely fit a laptop bag.

The most valuable use of a frunk is for items you want to keep separate from the main boot: charging cables (which can be wet and muddy from outdoor charging), valuables, groceries, or fragile items that you don't want under luggage.

* Figures are approximate and may vary by model year. Always verify with the manufacturer for your specific variant.

• Cable management: Most EV owners carry at least two cables (home charger and portable emergency cable). A dedicated small bag in the frunk (if available) keeps these out of the main boot and prevents the cable from getting tangled with luggage.
• Weight and range: A fully loaded EV uses more energy than a lightly loaded one. A 200kg load in a typical EV reduces range by approximately 10–15%. Factor this into range planning on long trips — if fully loaded, allow for one additional charging stop.
• Charging stop bag: If you're doing a long trip with charging stops, keep a small bag with charging app phone, snacks, and a jacket accessible in the cabin — not buried in the boot you'll unpack at every stop.
• Roof racks and range: Roof racks and cargo boxes cause more aerodynamic drag on EVs than on petrol cars, proportionally reducing range more. A large cargo box at highway speeds can reduce range by 15–25%. Factor this in more aggressively than you would with a petrol car.