The benefits of electric cars for families

Electric cars offer more space than those with combustion engines

Families with children have one priority when it comes to cars – space. This demand is increasingly being met by the electric car market, with various models from AMAG, including the VW ID.4, the Audi e-tron and the Škoda Enyaq iV. In terms of space, electric cars actually score better than those with combustion engines because they do not need a traditional engine compartment and the batteries are fitted under the floor of the vehicle to save space, leaving more space for the passengers, more legroom, more knee-room and more space for the head and shoulders. Battery electric vehicles (BEV) have plenty of storage space for everything a family needs, from prams through toys and sports equipment to a big shop, with boot capacities of up to 540 litres, easily outstripping some combustion competitors.

Generous range figures from electric cars

The range figures for electric cars, especially family SUVs, are also becoming increasingly generous. Depending on the version, some of AMAG’s electric models can cover distances of over 500 kilometres. This means, as a family, you do not have to stress about charging or waste time worrying about empty batteries on your many everyday trips for and with the children to school, to sports clubs, to music lessons, to work and to the shops. To make charging as straight-forward as possible, AMAG offers its own wall box which can be fitted in your home or garage. Then you can simply charge your electric car overnight. And the extensive range of the electric SUVs makes even a trip to the seaside a calm, stress-free experience as you do not have to keep stopping to charge along the way.

Safety is paramount in electric cars

Some car drivers have concerns about safety when it comes to electric cars, partly because of the fire risk from the batteries. But any safety concerns relating to electric vehicles are completely unfounded. All components, including the battery, are designed to be what is known as intrinsically safe, which means the battery is fitted under the floor in a stable steel or aluminium casing so that it remains undamaged even in the event of a serious crash and cannot combust. The danger of rolling the vehicle is also minimised thanks to the electric design: given the significant weight of the battery and its protective body, the centre of gravity on an electric vehicle is lower than that of a conventional car. And, in the event of a collision, the high-voltage cable between the electric drive and the battery pack is disconnected very quickly. This is all in evidence in all the AMAG family SUVs – Audi e-tron, VW ID.4 and Škoda Enyaq iV: they have all been awarded a Euro NCAP safety rating of five out of five stars.

Electric cars are getting cheaper all the time

Space, range, safety: check! But what are the overall costs for an electric car? Initially, the acquisition costs are higher than for a combustion engine, but these are coming down based on increasing demand, making them more and more accessible for a family budget. Especially when you consider overall costs. These are considerably lower for an electric car, partly because maintenance is more straight-forward. As there are no combustion components like spark plugs, exhausts, gearboxes, radiators, clutches, air and oil filters, they cannot go wrong. These things are often at the root of expensive repairs and add up to a substantial difference in maintenance costs of around one third, according to calculations by the German Institute for the Automotive Industry (IFA). Energy costs are also lower. By comparison, an electric car only uses the equivalent of around two litres of petrol per 100 kilometres. According to ADAC calculations, electric cars are more and more often coming out better than combustion engines if you factor in all costs, including purchase price, running costs, maintenance and depreciation.

Benefit from cantonal subsidies

As well as the benefits above, those buying electric cars can enjoy subsidy or promotion schemes in many of the Swiss cantons (Basel City, Bern, Geneva, Jura, Lucerne, St Gallen, Schwyz, Thurgau, Ticino, Vaud, Valais and Zurich). These are either contributions to the purchase of a vehicle, partial reductions on vehicle tax or contributions to the installation of your own charging station. You can also get a discount of up to 20 percent when taking out insurance on an electric car.

Summary of suitability of electric cars for families: electric cars are a step ahead when it comes to space, range and safety. Even now, there is no reason not to switch over to electric cars, and the longer you wait, the more reason there will be. If you still need a little persuasion about the benefits of an electric family SUV and you are not quite ready to jump in and buy one, you could try an AMAG car subscription with initial run times starting at 6 months. The subscription gives you the chance to give it a try and answer any questions you may have about the drive, the performance, the space and the charging.