Why I Chose an Electric Car for Family Life (and What Surprised Me)

When we started thinking about changing our family car, I was mostly looking for something practical: big enough for a toddler and a pushchair, efficient to run, and not an environmental write-off. I didn’t expect to end up in the electric car rabbit hole.

But after a few weeks of research, cost crunching, and test drives, we went electric — and haven’t looked back (mostly).

Here’s why we made the switch to an EV for family life — and what genuinely surprised me about the experience.

⚡ Why We Considered Going Electric

Fuel costs were climbing. Our old car was starting to groan at the thought of another long motorway trip. And honestly? I wanted something that felt a bit future-proof.

Add to that:

Congestion charges becoming a real thing
Access to workplace charging
The reality that most of our driving is short-haul, not cross-country

An EV started to make more sense.

👨‍👩‍👧 What We Needed From a Family Car

Like most parents, I wasn’t chasing performance stats. I was chasing boot space and sanity.

Our must-haves:

Enough room for a toddler, buggy, and weekend bags
Good range (but not obsessive)
Comfort for long drives
Isofix seats, rear doors that open wide, and room for snack trays

We test drove a few — from budget-friendly MG4s to more premium options like the Skoda Enyaq — and eventually landed somewhere in the middle.

⚠️ The Surprises No One Told Me

1. Charging isn’t always straightforward

Home charging is brilliant. Public charging… still a bit wild west.
We’re lucky to have a home charger, which I now realise is half the battle. Without it, I’d probably feel very different about the switch.

2. You become range-aware, but not range-anxious

Most days we drive 15–20 miles. Once you learn the rhythm (and stop obsessively checking the %), it just works.

3. It’s weirdly quiet — in a good way

It’s like parenting in whisper mode. No engine noise when they’re asleep? Magic.

4. You still need to think like a dad

The boot gets full fast. You’ll still need to vacuum out raisins. And no, the car doesn’t magically make soft play any more enjoyable.

💷 Are EVs Actually Cheaper?

Upfront? No. But:

Our monthly “fuel” cost is now under £30
Maintenance has been minimal (no oil, no gears, fewer moving parts)
We’re exempt from ULEZ and congestion charges when visiting family in London

It’s not just about money, though. It’s about the mental load of driving. Fewer petrol station stops. Pre-warmed cars. Smoother commutes. Small wins add up.

🏠 What It’s Like Charging at Home (and Why It Matters)

Installing a home charger made the entire EV experience practical for us. We went with a 7kW wall box charger through a local electrician. It charges our car from empty to full in about 8 hours — so we just plug in overnight and wake up to a “full tank.”

We also take advantage of cheaper off-peak electricity by using a smart tariff, which brings our charging cost down to around 7p per kWh. That’s roughly £6 for a full charge — and it lasts us almost a week with local family driving.

💡 Tip: If you’re considering an EV and can’t get a home charger installed (e.g. if you rent or don’t have off-street parking), it’s worth checking how many public chargers are within walking distance — and whether they actually work consistently.

👶 Is an EV Family-Proof?

Here’s what we’ve found with a toddler in tow:

Rear-facing car seats fit fine (we drive a crossover-style EV)
The silence is a genuine help with naps and bedtime returns
Instant heating is a winter lifesaver — no waiting 5 minutes to demist
Regenerative braking makes stop-start driving smoother, which actually helps prevent the dreaded backseat spills

And the boot space? Better than expected — we can still fit a folded buggy, travel potty, and nappy bag with room to spare.

🔋 The Only Downsides We’ve Noticed

I want to be honest, too. Here are the compromises:

Public charging can be hit-and-miss (especially on bank holidays)
Long journeys require planning (charging stops add 15–30 mins)
Some EVs have too much tech — menus buried behind touchscreens can be distracting

But for our day-to-day life — nursery runs, supermarket trips, countryside drives — it’s been easy, comfortable, and (surprisingly) fun.

🚘 How It Compares to Our Old Car

We came from a 2014 petrol estate. Here’s the head-to-head:

Feature	Old Petrol Estate	Our EV
Monthly running cost	~£160 (fuel)	~£30 (electricity)
Servicing	Yearly + oil + MOT	Annual health check
Driving experience	Loud, fine	Silent, smooth
Storage	Good	Slightly better
Charge/fill-up time	5 mins petrol stop	Overnight at home

So far? The EV wins — unless you’re doing a weekly 400-mile commute.

✅ Final Thoughts from The Sorted Dad

Making the switch to an EV isn’t a one-size-fits-all move. It’s not the right choice for every family or every budget. But for us, it’s reduced stress, simplified driving, and saved us money in the long run.

Would I do it again? Definitely.
Would I recommend it to every dad I know? Only if they’ve got a driveway, short commutes, and are tired of overpriced petrol.

The Sorted Dad

Simple wins for modern family life — money, mindset, home and more.