The Frunk: Everything You Need to Know About Storage

New functionalities, new words: With the growing popularity of e-cars, there are not only numerous new, exciting vehicle features, but also many new terms to describe them. The frunk is one of them. You can find out exactly what a frunk is here..

What is a frunk?

The word frunk is derived from the two English words "front" and "trunk" – front and trunk. This combination hits the nail on the head: In the place where you usually find the engine compartment of a gasoline-powered vehicle, there is a small but useful storage space in some electric cars. The term came about because electric cars became more and more popular and frunks became more common because of it.

Due to its usually small size, a frunk may not be enough for bulky luggage, but the newly created storage space is absolutely sufficient for charging cables, first aid kits or smaller (hand) bags.

What cars have a frunk?

While frunks are already common in electric cars, they are rather uncommon in combustion engines. In gasoline and diesel cars, the engine is usually installed under the front hood of the car – hence the common name hood. Since electric motors are smaller, they can be stowed away in a space-saving manner and are therefore usually placed offset. The newly created space can thus be used as storage space.

Although most car brands that produce electric cars also produce those with frunks, frunks are not part of the basic equipment of all electric cars. Most of the time, only models that were designed as electric cars from the beginning have a frunk. In models that were originally designed as combustion engines, no additional trunk has been taken into account in the shape and design of the car.

But combustion engines can also have a frunch. They are particularly found in sports cars due to their design. In these cars, the engine is usually installed in the rear. In contrast to frunks in electric cars, however, these are usually much smaller and the car does not have an ordinary trunk instead.

How much space does it have in a frunk?

In fact, the space created by a frunk is different: A Jaguar I-Pace, for example, has a storage volume of 27 liters, while a Tesla Model X has a volume of 70 liters. In some electric cars, the frunk can only hold 35 liters. Others, however, have a capacity of up to 150 Liter.In the 35 liters – which is roughly equivalent to a large sports bag – do not fit large pieces of luggage, but there is enough space for a first aid kit and the charging cables. Since the conventional trunk is still available in these cars, you will benefit from the additional storage space if you opt for a car with a frunk.

Electric cars as small space miracles

However, e-cars also offer much more space than conventional combustion engines: Since e-cars do not have a bulky engine, an extended transmission or complex clutches installed, the storage space is generally increased. The fact that the battery is usually stowed in the underbody to save space and the tunnel for the drive and cardan shaft is eliminated also provides more space and more legroom for electric cars.

Frunks: not a must-have, but "nice-to-have"

Electric car drivers have to bring some additional things, such as the right charging cable. A frunk offers the perfect storage space for this, but is also not absolutely necessary. It is also clear that electric cars generally offer more space than their combustion engine counterparts. Nevertheless, the additional trunk under the bonnet is certainly a nice extra.