The Ultimate Guide to Electric Minivans: Features, Benefits and More

The electric minivan market in the United States is relatively small compared to the overall market for electric vehicles (EVs). As of this writing, the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz is the only fully electric minivan available in the U.S.

The convenient, spacious minivan was once the primo choice for many families, partly due to ample cargo room and options for seating more than five people. However, the rise of SUVs and the number of choices they provide pushed minivans down on the vehicle charts. When you add in the high production cost of electric vehicles, you have a formula that limits how many EV minivans are on the market.

However, there are some hybrid models that allow drivers to make more eco-friendly choices. This guide also includes hybrids to provide a better look at your options for electric and semi-electric minivans in the United States.

The only fully electric minivan: Volkswagen ID. Buzz

If you're in the market for a fully electric minivan, your only choice in the United States is the Volkswagen ID. Buzz. This minivan seats a maximum of seven people, depending on model and trim level, and 2025 models are expected to be available at U.S. dealerships in the fall of 2024.

The minivan will be available in three standard trim packages and a launch timeframe exclusive, 1st Edition. Rear-wheel-drive models will generate 282 horsepower, while the all-wheel-drive models bump up the power to 335 horsepower.

The European version of the ID. Buzz has a range of around 257 miles, based on the Euro-specific testing method, and a 77-kWh battery. The minivan has not yet been tested by the EPA, but we do know the U.S. versions are expected to have a larger 91-kWh battery, so the range might improve over the overseas model. It's equipped with a fast-charging lithium-ion battery, so you can go from 5% to 80% charge in just 30 minutes with maximum charging speeds.

While all the details regarding the U.S. version of the ID. Buzz aren't out as of mid-2024, it's a good bet that some of the convenience and style features from the European models will make it over the pond. Expansive cargo space and more than two dozen driver assistance features including parking assist are just some of the options you might expect to see when the ID. Buzz hits U.S. dealerships.

Aside from the electric motor, the ID. Buzz offers a few features that differentiate it from traditional minivans. It's around 8 inches taller than some other vans and even some SUVs. Even without stowable rear seats, this allows for plenty of cargo space when the seats are folded down.

Plug-in hybrid minivan: Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid

If you can't wait for the ID. Buzz to hit dealership lots, or if you want a minivan that takes a hybrid approach, consider the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. As of mid-2024, it's the only plug-in hybrid minivan available in the U.S.

This minivan has an EPA-estimated range of 520 miles, and a single charge can get you up to 32 miles on electric power. Charging takes a few hours or overnight, depending on the type of charger and station.

The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is designed for around-town and road-trip driving. Depending on the model, you can seat up to seven, and Stow 'n Go seating in the third row offers flexibility for creating more cargo space. Advanced technology features include a FamCam so the driver can see what's happening in the back, optional entertainment systems, and plenty of on-the-road safety assistance features.

Hybrid minivans to consider

A number of other hybrid minivans are also available and worth considering until more electric minivans arrive. The main difference between hybrids, such as the hybrid Toyota Sienna and Kia Carnival Hybrid, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), such as the Chrysler Pacifica detailed above, is that you can drive PHEVs for at least short distances on only electric power. A total EV, such as the ID. Buzz, operates solely on electric power.

In contrast, traditional hybrid vehicles supplement gas power with electrical power to reduce reliance on gas. However, you don't plug them in to charge, and they don't run solely on electrical power.

Toyota Sienna hybrid

The hybrid-only Sienna provides above-average comfort for drivers and passengers. Depending on the model, you get features such as multi-zone climate control and seating for seven or eight passengers. Toyota technology, including a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen and an available surround-view parking camera system, are also onboard to make minivan life easier.

According to Toyota, its Sienna gets an EPA-estimated 36 miles per gallon whether you're driving city, highway, or combined miles thanks to the 2.5-liter hybrid engine.

Kia Carnival Hybrid

The 2025 Kia Carnival brings an innovative style to the minivan market. Its aggressive exterior leans on traditional SUV design. The hybrid version features a turbo 1.6-liter engine paired with a 54-kW motor to create a combined output of 242 horsepower, 271 lb.-ft. of torque. The van seats up to eight people and offers extended flexible cargo space depending on how the seats are arranged.

The EPA has not tested the hybrid version of the Carnival as of this writing. However, SAE International reports that the manufacturer is targeting around 32 mpg combined, which would put it just short of the best-in-class figure from the Sienna.

The future of electric minivans

The future market for all-electric minivans in the United States will likely expand as consumer demand for eco-friendly vehicles grows. Advances in battery technology continue to reduce charging times and enhance the range of these vehicles, and that opens doors for consumers who rely on minivans for longer family road trips or worry about being stranded for long periods of time with young kids at charging stations.

In addition to Volkswagen's ID. Buzz, Chrysler is expected to release an all-electric version of the Pacifica in upcoming years. If those sell well, there's a chance that other minivan manufacturers, such as Honda and Kia, may follow suit.