Many electric cars are finding themselves with a bunch of empty space where the engine used to be. Some models are converting this space into a front trunk, or “frunk.”
There’s no way of telling yet. What we do know is that all of this space in a car that would have once been dedicated to the engine and its various components is now free and available for other use. We will have to wait and see what ideas the automobile manufacturers come up with.
It is entirely possible that this newly empty space could serve as the creative sandbox for an entirely new aspect of the motoring experience: something totally absent today that will become a must-have in the future, like torpedoes for slow traffic. But we’re not there yet. So far, the best (and worst) use we’ve come across is the Ford Mustang Mach-E, which has an insulated frunk that can be used as a beverage cooler or even a shrimp cocktail bar at tailgating parties. That is utterly ridiculous yet also pretty darn cool, if you’ll pardon our pun.
But is it just a gimmick, or is it actually a sign of things to come? It’s too early to say.
What we can say is this: Usually, when a technological advance frees up space in an object, that object eliminates the extra space and becomes smaller and nimbler. However, this particular situation might be different. We already have ultra-small EVs on the road. Many Americans have an aversion to those small cars, especially since so many of the vehicles on the road today are huge. It can be pretty scary to drive next to a giant pickup or SUV in a tiny little pea pod! Some drivers want a bigger option. So frunks might just stick around just to add bulk for those who want it.
If the frunk never becomes more than a glorified second trunk, it probably won’t achieve mainstream status. That’s because very few people actually need two trunks in their car. Carrying extra cargo weight is a huge waste of battery power, and before you know it you’ll be using our app to find a charging station near you. So, besides emergency supplies, you shouldn’t be storing extra stuff in your car.
Also, remember that a front trunk doesn’t have the same utility as a rear trunk: When it comes to long objects, most cars let you put down the back seat so that you can extend the storage length of the trunk. A frunk can’t do that, since the dashboard and driver are in the way. In addition, there are still some EV components that will take up space in the front. Thus, front trunk storage will always be smaller.
Having said that, there are certainly a few situations where the extra storage space is useful. It’s easy to imagine frunks cultivating a niche as commercial vehicles, such as taxis and rideshares, grocery delivery cars, and corporate fleets. They may also find a market with families who don’t want the size and expense of an SUV but still need a lot of cargo space for the kids’ stuff.
Analysis
This article brings up a good point, and that is that for now frunks feel like a gimmick or the result of an EV car inheriting some new space since it doesn’t tradiotnally use parts that would go there. I think we should be thinking about maximizing this space as best we can, and doing more research on how this can be of more use to vehicle owners. The convenience of a trunk still beats that of a frunk, as it is larger and more accesible. Some frunks can be small and some EVs are low to the ground so it would require owners to bend over a lot more than reaching into their trunk. For now, I agree with the article in saying that for the most part the frunk is there to give vehicle owners some bonus space for them to use if they need it.
Source
Technologies, Author Liberty Access. “What’s a Frunk, and Does Your Electric Vehicle Need One?” Liberty Plugins News, 19 Mar. 2020, https://www.libertyplugins.com/blog/2020/03/19/whats-a-frunk-and-does-your-electric-vehicle-need-one/.
