Why an electric car makes great sense for families

As every hard-pressed parent knows, any vehicle looking to claim the crown of ‘family car’ has to be a jack of all trades, and a true master of them all. So, even in an age where petrol and diesel still feel like the traditional first choice for a versatile family workhorse, there are plenty of reasons why an electric car – such as the Nissan LEAF – is a better solution.

Electric cars have come a long way in the last 10 years, and today’s EVs offer substantially more range than ever before, cost-effective home charging, easier and faster on-the-go top-ups and – crucially – more space, comfort and practicality. So, let’s tick off a typical list of family chores to explain how the all-electric car Nissan LEAF answers every challenge.

To find out more about the Nissan LEAF, head to nissan.co.uk/leaf

Conquering the space race

First, space: the most valuable resource for family life on the move. Any good family car needs comfortable seating for mum, dad, kids, grandparents, uncles and aunts (and friends), as well as oodles of room for shopping, school sports gear or holiday luggage.

Thanks to cleverly packaged batteries mounted low in the chassis, and compact electric motors that take up less space than a traditional engine, modern electric cars offer more room for passengers, with capacious load volumes that match traditional counterparts. 

Take the Nissan LEAF. It has comfortable seating for up to five that feels more SUV-like than hatchback, with up to 435 litres of luggage space as standard. Folding the 60:40 rear seats flat expands the versatile load space up to 1176 litres, while optional accessories such as the rear cargo organiser and aluminium roof-mounted load carrier extend the Nissan LEAF’s load-lugging practicality even further. Plus, you get time-pushed parent-friendly confidence-inspiring ISOFIX attachments in the rear, and on the front passenger seat. 

So, whatever your task – whether packing in bags of shopping, sliding in flatpack furniture for a day of DIY, taxiing the kids and their friends on the school run, or carting the whole family (and luggage) on a week’s holiday, the all-electric Nissan LEAF can flex to fit your life.

The range to suit every journey

Next, with a list of tasks that include daily school runs and commuting, weekend shopping and family adventures, any good family car needs to be poised, ready and adaptable for whatever trip is next – short or long.

The ‘splash-and-dash’ refuelling of petrol and diesel cars used to be the best match for hectic family lifestyles, but the impressive electric range and a greater choice of flexible charging options on modern electric cars – whether topping up quickly on-the-go, or more slowly and cost-effectively when it fits around your day – mean you’re never held back.

The advanced 62kWh battery on Nissan LEAF e+ models, for example, offers 239 miles (WLTP) of all-electric range^[1], giving it the heft to either go the distance or stack up lots of short everyday journeys. But don’t think about the big numbers; think about how you use it for everyday family journeys. Yes, lots and lots and lots of short journeys.

Most people don’t realise that everyday local trips – a daily commute, the school run or a weekly shop – are typically around 10-20 miles^[2]. That means you could do a week or more of driving on just one charge in a 239-mile Nissan LEAF e+ model^[1][2] – although the better option is to keep topping up your battery overnight on a home charger when the car is not being used, making the most of overnight cost-effective electric rates.  

Equally, the 239-mile range of Nissan LEAF e+ models makes long journeys easy^[1]. For example, you wouldn’t do a four-hour cross-country family trip without either a relaxing hour-long lunch stop or a comfort break – giving you the perfect opportunity for either topping up your battery on longer halts, or letting you graze for smaller boosts on shorter stops.

Charging that fits your day

Alongside the impressive battery range of electric cars, modern EVs now offer you greater access to a wider, more flexible, faster and cheaper wealth of ways to recharge. 

In fact, finding somewhere to charge on-the-go has never been easier. Today, there are over 35,000 charging points at 12,600 locations across the UK – including 8750 rapid charging points at 2460 locations^[3]. That means you’re never more than 25 miles away from a rapid charger^[4], with 97% of motorway service stations featuring at least one rapid charger^[5].

A quick on-the-go top-up at the sort of 50kW CHAdeMO rapid chargers that you typically find at motorway service stations can boost your range from 20% to 80% in as little as 90 minutes on Nissan LEAF e+ 62kWh models, or 60 minutes on 168-mile range Nissan LEAF 40kWh models^[6] – perfect for giving your EV a little extra boost in the typically 20-30 minutes that most people spend at a service station. 

There are also plenty of options available for urban charging with parking on city streets and in supermarkets, shopping and leisure centres. When you think that most people spend an average of 47 minutes doing the weekly food shop, around 1 hour and 38 minutes shopping in town centres, or over two hours seeing a film, it’s easy to see how you can give your car a big boost of charge while doing a range of family activities.

Balancing the books with cheaper running costs

Think the cost of all of this charging adds up? Think again. In fact, running an electric car can be cheaper than you may think. The UK government’s Electric Vehicle Home Charging Scheme covers up to 75% of the cost (up to £350) of installing a 7kWh wallbox home charger^[7] which can recharge your Nissan LEAF overnight for around 3.7p per mile or £8.93 for a full charge – around 60% cheaper or a saving of over £700 versus the petrol equivalent per year^[8].

Add in 0% road tax, exemptions for urban congestion or low-emission zone charges, and the UK government’s ‘plug-in vehicle grant’ – which offers up to £3,000 of the purchase price of an EV^[9] – and they all work together to make running an electric car cheaper in the long run, letting you put more into the family kitty (or give the kids a treat).

Helping to keep your family safe while on the road

Finally, a good family car should make driving easy for mum and dad, as well as being comfortably cocooning and refined for everyone – front and back.

The Nissan LEAF’s electric motors offer a quieter and more refined driving experience than petrol or diesel – ideal for keeping in-car conversations to a whisper or giving everyone a few hours of calm. Equally, with up to 217PS and 340Nm on LEAF e+ models, the driver has confident instant acceleration when needed – perfect for smoothly and safely overtaking other cars or joining fast-moving motorway traffic when appropriate.

Depending on which trim and options you pick on your Nissan LEAF, you can also benefit from an array of Nissan Intelligent Mobility technology that makes driving easier, more fun and – top of any parent’s priority list – safer^[10]. 

Advanced NissanConnect in-car infotainment options include sat-nav that keeps you on the straight-and-narrow and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity that keep you and the kids entertained^[11], while the comprehensive suite of ProPILOT systems that are available includes Intelligent Cruise Control with Traffic Jam Pilot, Intelligent Emergency Braking and Intelligent Lane Intervention, Intelligent Around View Monitor^[12]. 

Parking sensors, a rear-view camera and Rear Cross Traffic Alert – allied to optional ProPILOT Park that offers automated hands-free manoeuvring – help to take the hassle out of car parks. It all works with the one-pedal e-Pedal to make city and motorway driving less stressful and more energy-efficient, whether you’re at 70mph or in stop-start traffic^[12]. 

So, from the start of every one of life’s little journeys, right the way to the end, you can now see why an all-electric car is the perfect choice for family and friends.

[1] Laminated lithium-ion 40kWh battery with 168 miles range and e+ 62kWh battery with 239 miles range. WLTP figures shown are for comparability purposes. Actual real-world driving results may vary depending on factors such as the starting charge of the battery, accessories fitted after registration, weather conditions, driving styles and vehicle load.

[2] Based on average annual mileage of petrol/diesel drivers of 7,400 miles per year (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/nts09-vehicle-mileage-and-occupancy#car-mileage). Equates to 142 miles per week/20 miles per day.

[3] For substantiation, visit: https://www.zap-map.com/statistics/

[4] For substantiation, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-vision-for-the-rapid-chargepoint-network-in-england/government-vision-for-the-rapid-chargepoint-network-in-england

[5] For substantiation, visit: https://www.goultralow.com/faqs/

[6] Indicated rapid charging time may vary depending on factors including charging conditions, battery and ambient temperature at point of use.

[7] Based on Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, for more information visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/customer-guidance-electric-vehicle-homecharge-scheme

[8] Cost for petrol for 239-mile distance, based on average petrol price of £1.15 per litre (AA, September 2020) and a car delivering a fuel economy of 48.2mpg (combined) 48.2mpg = 4.96 gallons = 22.5 litres @ £1.15 = £25.93 (10.9p per mile) or £1,090 per year for 10,000 miles. Cost to charge Nissan LEAF e+ to up to 239-mile range based on average daytime electric rates of 14.4p per kWh (UK Power, November 2020). For 62kWh at 14.4p/kWh, charge cost = £8.93 (3.7p per mile) or £374 per year for 10,000 miles.

[9] Eligibility criteria apply. Please refer to the following site for details: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-grants-for-low-emission-vehicles

[10] Nissan Intelligent Mobility features are standard or optional on selected Nissan LEAF models and grades. Please visit www.nissan.co.uk for more information.

[11] NissanConnect with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto should only be used when it is safe to do so in accordance with the Highway Code. For compatible devices, visit: https://www.nissan.co.uk/ownership/nissan-infotainment-system/android-auto-apple-carplay.html

[12] It is your responsibility to stay alert, drive safely and be in control of the vehicle at all times. Driver assist features have speed and other limitations and should not be relied on. For more information, visit www.nissan.co.uk