What is a frunk?

Quick insights

• A frunk, short for “front trunk,” is a storage compartment located at the front of a car.
• Frunks in electric vehicles (EVs) provide practical benefits such as additional storage space, utility and convenience. Frunks can also contribute to a more efficient and enjoyable driving experience.
• While frunks are a unique feature in some EVs, their inclusion is not universal across all models. It depends on the car manufacturer’s design choices and priorities.

You may be wondering, what is a frunk? A frunk is like a trunk but in the front of your car. Imagine a storage space located under the hood where your engine would normally be. A frunk provides extra storage room in addition to the main trunk in the rear of your car.

What is a frunk?

A frunk, short for "front trunk," is a storage compartment in the front of an electric vehicle. The frunk is an innovative feature on modern cars, particularly electric vehicles (EVs), offering practical benefits that enhance the overall utility and convenience for drivers and passengers. Frunks are not a new concept because they’ve appeared in rear-engine cars like the Porsche 911 and Chevrolet Corvair. According to J.D. Power, the term “frunk” gained popularity in the early 2010s, thanks to electric vehicle pioneers such as Tesla^{®disc-autoguide}.

What is the difference between a trunk and a frunk?

In general, while both trunks and frunks serve the purpose of providing storage space in vehicles, their location and specific advantages make them suitable for different car types and designs.

Trunk

• Location: The trunk is traditionally at the rear of a car, behind the back seats. It is typically accessible through a rear hatch or trunk lid.
• Purpose: A trunk’s primary purpose is to provide storage space for luggage, groceries, equipment and other items that need to be transported securely.

Frunk

• Location: The frunk is located at the front of the car, where the engine would typically be in a gasoline engine vehicle.
• Purpose: A frunk can be particularly advantageous in electric vehicles where the absence of a traditional engine in the front allows for this space to be utilized for storage.

Why do electric vehicles have frunks?

Electric vehicles have frunks for numerous reasons, improving both functionality and driver experience.

• Additional storage space: Unlike traditional gas cars, EVs do not have a front-mounted engine. This absence frees up valuable space in the front of the car. This can provide EV owners with extra storage capacity for everyday items like groceries or luggage for traveling purposes.
• Optimizing weight distribution: EVs typically feature heavy components such as the battery pack in the lower part of the car. The addition of a frunk helps by balancing the vehicle’s weight distribution from front-to-rear, enhancing overall handling and stability on the road.
• Efficient use of space: The design of a frunk allows car manufacturers to maximize interior space efficiency. By utilizing the available space at the front of the car, EVs can offer comparable cargo capacity to traditional cars.

Do all electric cars have frunks?

No, not all electric cars have frunks. The presence of a frunk in an electric car depends on many factors such as the vehicle’s size, design and the car manufacturer’s priorities.

• Design constraints: Some electric cars may prioritize other design elements like aerodynamics, battery placement and maximizing interior space over incorporating a frunk. It also requires specific engineering considerations.
• Battery placement: The location and size of the battery pack can heavily influence whether there’s enough space available at the front of the car to accommodate a frunk.
• Cost considerations: Designing and manufacturing a frunk usually adds more complexity and cost to the vehicle production process.

Benefits of having a frunk in a car?

A frunk is designed to provide practical solutions for your storage needs. Here are a few real-life examples of how you can use a frunk:

Everyday convenience

• Grocery shopping: After a trip to the supermarket, placing your grocery bags in the frunk keeps them separate from other items in the trunk, which may prevent spills or damage to other cargo.
• Family outing: Transporting picnic blankets, coolers or outdoor games in the frunk can simplify the preparation process for outdoor family gatherings.

Travel and luggage

• Luggage storage: When traveling, placing your luggage or carry-on bags in the frunk can keep them secure and easily accessible.

Outdoor activities

• Sports equipment: You can store sporting equipment like soccer balls, tennis rackets or camping gear in the frunk to keep them organized and separate from other gear in the main trunk.

In summary

A frunk is a clever innovation found in modern car designs and is especially popular in electric vehicles. By fully utilizing the front space of a car, frunks can provide extra storage for everything from groceries to sports equipment, enhancing convenience for drivers. This can help keep your main trunk clutter-free. Beyond practicality, frunks contribute to better weight distribution and stability in EVs. Whether you’re driving around the city or embarking on a road trip, the frunk can be a nice feature for organized and efficient travel.