Choosing an EV for a family

Any car purchase is a big deal, and it takes time to find the right model. Add all the considerations with a busy family and that list of criteria can get even longer. So how do you find an electric vehicle that’s perfect for your family? Our guide below explores the family car dilemma in more detail.

A family car isn’t one type of vehicle, because families are different sizes and ages. That’s why it’s a smart idea to note down all the needs everyone in your household has from a vehicle. Does it need to be a certain size, will some of the kids learn to drive in this car? What regular activities and commitments does everyone have? How often will you travel on the road as a family? How far will you go and what will you bring?

By writing down all the things you need from a car on a handy list, you can check possible electric cars against your list to help make the best decision. Keep reading and we’ll touch on some of these common list criteria.

In New Zealand, you’ll come across some brands and models regularly in the EV space. With family considerations being a big part of the buying decision for so many, the market offers some good choices here. From the likes of BYD, you’ve got models like the Atto 3, a family-friendly sized SUV with plenty of space and power for daily use. Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 is another highly-regarded electric SUV to look into. If you’ve got a smaller family or prefer something a bit more compact, the Nissan Leaf is a Kiwi EV staple for a reason.

But there’s plenty more selection across New Zealand. Let’s explore some of the other criteria that can help you choose an appropriate family vehicle.

Consider doing initial research on the current price ranges of EVs, before setting your budget. What you require from your family vehicle can also affect what a realistic budget should be. While we don’t provide specific financial or budgeting advice, we will remind you that it’s always best to consider the total cost of ownership over the lifetime of your vehicle purchase. This includes the savings from running your EV on electric, and not filling up with petrol or diesel. 

Once you’ve got a budget set, this is useful for looking around and refining your list a bit quicker. It’s always good to have that figure in mind when you’re getting down to buying, so you know your goalposts for negotiating.

Think about an average week for your family’s transportation – how far and how often is the car needed? Try mapping out the distance of your school or kindy runs, the commute to and from work, sports practice and games, shopping for groceries and so on.

If you list these common activities and their distances, you can start to get an idea of what range would suit your family’s needs. If you have longer trips, it’s worth prioritising range, battery capacity and charge speed. For shorter and fewer trips, you might be fine with a more modest rated range.

A busy family vehicle needs charging regularly. Before committing to a particular model, check around your area for charging points. These can be found at dedicated EV charging stations, petrol stations, at shopping malls, tourist attractions, supermarkets and parks to name a few.

Of course, your home is likely to be your most common charging location for a family EV. Make sure you check your home has an easy way to charge your vehicle, such as via a power outlet in your garage.

Doing your homework on charging points is well worth the effort. Who wants to be stuck on the side of the road, late for cricket practice? A search online should help you find some options in your area. Take a look at resources like ChargeNet, Drive Electric and Meridian’s own Zero network map for more information.

For a family-purpose vehicle, we know that safety is one of the most important criteria for selecting a model. There are many aspects to an EV’s safety features that are shared with non-electric cars, and others that are unique to EVs. When shopping around for your family EV, look for:

• Battery safety management features that prevent things like overheating – this can lead to damage or fire.
• Airbag systems in the front and back seating areas of the cabin, including front and sides.
• Pedestrian safety features like collision avoidance or detection. An EV is quiet, so there can be a risk of people not noticing or hearing your car at times.
• Crash test ratings – the way a vehicle responds to a collision varies greatly from model to model. Make sure to find out about safety features and design of the car that helps protect passengers first and the car second.
• Driving assistance – like other modern vehicles, EVs often come with lane departure warnings, lane keeping assistance and parking help. You might have read about autonomous driving, although this is very much an evolving area of EVs.
• Automatic braking to avoid or reduce the severity of an impending collision.

Safety in a family car should be good no matter which seat the vehicle passengers are sitting. If you’ve got a baby or toddler, you’ll want to check for child seat restraints and fasteners to give you peace of mind.

Not all electric vehicles are large, so you’ll want to test out your options by bringing your family along on your EV search. Make sure everyone sits in the vehicle and ideally comes with you on a test drive. The cabin of the car should provide everyone with ample leg room and space to sit comfortably. Families grow in size (and number sometimes), so buying for not just today’s needs but future requirements is important.

Whether it’s taking a load of junk to the tip, taking the boat to the marina or helping your adult children move out into a flat, family vehicles are often used for towing. One of the criticisms of electric vehicles is that they’re not as well suited to towing as a typical vehicle, given the strain it can place on the battery and therefore efficiency. However, this need is being worked on with newer models that are purposely designed with towing capabilities in mind.

The ability for the EV to tow a load will depend on the model you choose, so make sure to do your homework and if buying from a dealer, ask them about your options for tow bars and the load capacity.

No car is guaranteed to meet all your needs in the future, but it’s worth thinking about what might be needed from your car later down the road. Anyone with kids will know they don’t stay the same size for long. If you plan on keeping your car for a long time, make sure you get an EV that will evolve with your family. For example, a compact car might be perfect for one baby, but quickly become a squeeze if the family grows in numbers.

And it’s not just the number or size of kids that makes a difference – it’s the stuff they bring with them that can quickly expose an EV that’s too small.

If you’ve got teenagers, think about whether the car will be appropriate to learn to drive in. Most EVs are straightforward, but that instant-access to power is something to keep in mind! The feel is different to a regular car when accelerating and decelerating, so in today’s world of electric and petrol options, you might want to encourage your family member to learn in both. As with an ICE vehicle, your EV shouldn’t be too complicated or powerful for a learner to use.