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Just three years ago, the only electric vehicle on the market that could tow was the Tesla Model
Fast forward to now, and at least three in five new electric vehicles can tow, covering a spectrum of towing capabilities.
So, with new electric SUVs and estate cars almost expected to be able to tow, what do you need to know about towing with an electric vehicle? What is the difference between towing with gasoline or diesel?
Here’s our guide on how to tow an electric vehicle to make your next charging trip easier.
Starting in 2023, three in five new electric vehicles will be able to tow; Currently, electric vehicles are capable of towing 2,500 kg.
Can electric vehicles tow?
Last year what car? Found surveyed 1,052 drivers and found that two in five did not believe an electric vehicle would be capable of towing a trailer or caravan.
As we’ve already discussed, electric vehicles can tow, but not all electric vehicles are certified to tow, as is the case with fuel-powered cars.
While EV towing is improving rapidly and EVs can now tow heavy loads, they can’t match fuel cars with the highest towing capacity (3500kg).
The electric vehicles with the highest towing capacity currently on the market have a limit of 2,500 kg.
Always make sure to check beforehand the maximum weight you can tow.
Does towing affect range?
There is no doubt that towing has a range-reducing effect.
Arval UK found last year that towing will reduce an electric vehicle’s range by 23 to 31 percent compared to the actual figure.
This can increase up to 50 percent when towing a heavier load.
Higher weight reduces efficiency (more battery power is required) and therefore reduces range, meaning you will have to plan your trips around the shorter range.
And because towing also reduces the efficiency of regenerative braking and it is recommended to disable regen, range is further compromised.
But it’s worth remembering that towing also reduces the fuel economy of a petrol or diesel vehicle – by around 2 per cent per 45kg.
Towing with an electric vehicle is also much quieter than with a fuel-powered vehicle due to the lack of engine noise and the noise-canceling cabs that many electric vehicles have. And of course, there’s also the benefit of zero tailpipe emissions.
The benefits of towing with an electric vehicle
Basically, electric cars have no gears, which means that towing with an EV is a very smooth driving experience and much easier than a manual, even if the trailer or caravan is very heavy.
And electric cars are naturally better suited for towing than petrol or diesel cars because they have instant torque at any speed.
Towing with an electric vehicle is also much quieter than with a fuel-powered vehicle due to the lack of engine noise and the noise-canceling cabs that many electric vehicles have.
And of course, there’s also the benefit of zero tailpipe emissions.
The disadvantages of towing with an electric vehicle
Due to the drop in range that an electric vehicle experiences when towing, you will need to plan your trip accordingly and charge it more frequently, which can be inconvenient.
If an electric vehicle has regenerative braking, the system may be stressed by the heavy weight of the trailer, so it is recommended to disable regeneration.
While the towing capacity of electric vehicles is improving, it still lags behind the capacity of fuel vehicles. Currently, electric vehicles can tow up to 2,500kg, but some fuel cars can tow up to an additional 1,000kg.
Tips for towing with an electric vehicle and maximizing range
There are a few things you can do to maximize your reach.
If you reduce your speed, this will help improve power consumption because there will be less wind resistance and therefore you will be able to get a little more mileage out of the range.
And just as you would remove unnecessary weight to help fuel consumption, if you want to maximize range, remove any items you don’t need from your caravan or trailer.
The best electric vehicles for towing
Audi Q8 e-tron
Price: from £72,235
The first electric vehicle on our list with a maximum brake towing capacity of 1,800 kg is the expensive Audi Q8 e-tron
The Audi is not a cheap family engine for pulling caravans. The luxury SUV, which has a range of up to 330 miles on a single charge, starts at £72,000.
Genesis GV70
Price: from £65,105
With a towing capacity of 1,800kg, the Genesis GV70 is another luxury SUV with a high asking price.
If you are not familiar with this brand, Genesis is the premium brand of the Hyundai Motor Group and specializes in electrified models.
The Genesis GV70 SUV can tow 1,800kg, but it’s not what you’d call cheap – it costs more than £65,000 for a spacious SUV with 283 miles of range between charges.
Kia EV6 GT
Price: from £62,645
The EV6 GT is the high-performance version of Kia’s EV6 electric model. It also has a greater towing capacity.
The EV6 GT is the most powerful variant of the Kia EV6: the What Car? considered worthy of the 2023 award for best electric trailer. It also has a range of 263 miles.
While the standard model can tow up to 1,600 kg of weight, the GT version has the capacity to tow up to 1,800 kg. Starting at £62,645, that extra pulling power over the conventional EV6 comes at a pretty hefty price.
Mercedes-Benz EQA (300/350 variants)
Price: from £53,010
The base variant EQA 250 4Matic cannot match the 1,800kg towing capacity of the 300 and 350
Only the EQA 300 and 350 4Matic variants have a higher towing capacity of 1,800kg, meaning you’ll have to pay more than £53,000 if you want to haul something behind your electric Mercedes SUV.
With a range of between 260 and 268 miles, expect it to slow down a bit if you have something heavy hooked up.
Mercedes-Benz EQC
Price: from £74,330
Priced at almost £75k and with a range of just over 250 miles, the Mercedes EQC is an expensive way to tow a caravan.
The EQC is no different to all the other expensive EVs on the list, with a starting price of £74,330 and a range of just 254 miles between charges.
This gives it a towing capacity of 1,800 kg.
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
Price: from £129,470
The Mercedes EQS SUV is the most expensive model on this list and is exceptionally expensive at almost £130,000.
You’ll need to shell out almost £130,000 if you want this electric caravan vehicle. That’s because it’s Mercedes’ version of an elevated luxury limousine: the EQS SUV.
Packed with technology and pure luxury, it can tow up to 1,800 kg.
Recharge Volvo C40 (double variant)
Price: from £59,750
Volvos are a favorite among the caravan community and this compact C40 Recharge is up to the task.
Volvo’s latest all-electric compact SUV is the svelte C40 Recharge.
Only the twin-engine variants, which offer a range of 273 miles, have the full load capacity of 1,800kg, meaning prices start from just under £60,000.
Recharge Volvo XC40 (twin variant)
Price: from £61,855
The twin-engine Volvo XC40 Recharge is another small electric SUV with pulling power
The most practical option for the C40 Recharge is Volvo’s XC40 Recharge. Again, you’ll need to step up to the dual-motor variants to get 1,800 of maximum towing capacity.
These costs start from almost £62,000.
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