Your Guide to Towing with an EV

Legal & Safety Considerations for Towing with an EV

Anticipating a reduction in range will make it easier to understand the experience of towing with an EV and plan a journey in advance. However, it’s also crucial to bear some safety pointers in mind before you attempt towing with an EV. This will not only prevent damage to your drivetrain but help to keep you and your passengers safe.

The first thing you should check is the manufacturer-approved towing weights for your specific car. This information is essential to ensure you’re not towing more than your vehicle can safely handle.

To find the towing weight, you'll need to check the VIN plate (usually located in the door frame or under the bonnet). This plate will display 3 or 4 sets of weight: 

• The first row is the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) – the maximum your vehicle can weigh when fully loaded.
• The second row is the Gross Train Weight (GTW) – the maximum combined weight of your vehicle and a trailer.
• The third and fourth rows are Maximum Axle Loads – front and rear respectively. 

To calculate your maximum towing capacity, simply subtract the GVW (first row) from the GTW (second row). This will give you the maximum braked towing capacity of your EV in kg. That said, many manufacturers will provide a specific towing capacity figure in the owner’s manual or on their website.

If you’re unsure, speak to your Dick Lovett specialist, we’re always happy to help you confirm whether your chosen EV is towing-capable and recommend the correct equipment to go with it.

When setting up your EV with a tow bar, it’s important to choose a model that’s made for EVs, and compatible with your car’s mounting points and weight distribution. Note that some manufacturers will require you to use a specific tow bar that’s been designed for your model, and using an unapproved bar could void your warranty.

UK law also specifies that any tow bar used on your car needs to be “type-approved”, meaning that it meets relevant EU regulations and has been designed for use with your model. All type-approved tow bars will have a label with an approval number and details of the kinds of vehicles it’s approved for use with.

If your trailer weighs over 750kg when it’s loaded, it must also have an independent braking system to be road legal in the UK. Regardless of the trailer type or weight, it must also have the same number plate as your car.

Can an EV Tow a Caravan?

Like with any other kind of towing, many EVs are perfectly capable of towing a caravan, but there are certain variables it’s important to take on board whenever you’re thinking of doing this.

Here’s a look at some of the key considerations you should bear in mind whenever you’re planning to tow a caravan with your EV.

Key Considerations When Towing a Caravan with an EV

Weight of the Caravan vs EV’s Towing Capacity

As we mentioned before, any EV capable of towing will have a specified towing capacity you’ll need to adhere to for the best experience possible. Large electric SUVs and pickups will boast substantial towing power, while smaller city cars will have limited or no towing power at all.

Checking your manufacturer’s specifications against the caravan’s weight is essential to make sure your EV can handle the relevant towing job.

Battery Efficiency When Towing

Towing anything with your EV will greatly increase its energy consumption and cause your battery to drain faster than you may be used to. With additional weight, there’ll be more strain on your car’s electric motor, meaning you’ll have to deal with reduced energy efficiency and range.

Because EV range is also affected by weather conditions, driving behaviour, and other factors, it can be hard to determine exactly how much towing a caravan will affect your EV’s usual range. However, bearing this in mind when you plan your journey can help you keep on top of charging requirements and avoid any unexpected stops.

Aerodynamics and Range

Towing a caravan will also create additional drag on your vehicle, further impacting your energy efficiency and reducing your usual range. This is even true for caravans with a streamlined shape that are designed to be aerodynamic. With this in mind, you’ll need to plan for more frequent charging stops on a long journey when compared to driving with a small trailer, or driving without anything hitched to your car at all.

How Far Can an EV Tow a Caravan?

Figuring out the range that your EV can travel with a caravan depends on several factors, including:

Battery size: Larger EV batteries provide greater range from a single charge, ensuring greater flexibility when it comes to towing a caravan or other trailer.

Load weight: The heavier the caravan, the harder your EV’s motor will have to work, leading to faster energy consumption.

Weather conditions: Cold ambient conditions can slow the chemical reactions that your battery depends on to work, and strong headwinds can increase drag. Both of these need to be considered when you’re trailing a caravan to ensure a smooth journey.

Terrain: If the journey you’re planning involves a lot of uphill driving, this can also increase the energy consumption on your battery and reduce your car’s overall range.

When you’re planning to haul a caravan with your EV, it’s important to offset the reduced range by mapping out rapid chargers along your route and making sure you always have access to quick charging. 

Note that not all public chargers will be designed for vehicles towing a caravan or trailer, so make sure to use an app like Zapmap: Android | iOS or PlugShare: Android | iOS to research accessibility and save yourself time and hassle.

Vehicle Weight and Chassis Strength

When you’re towing with an EV, the car’s overall weight and structural integrity will provide the foundation of its towing performance and safety on the road.

The battery packs EVs need to function typically make them heavier than ICE equivalents, which can give you an immediate advantage if you’re used to towing with a petrol or diesel model.

Generally, the heavier the vehicle, the greater its stability will be when driving. This will help prevent trailer sway, especially when you’re driving at high speed on the motorway or in windy conditions. The additional weight can also improve the traction between your tyres and the surface of the road, especially when you’re towing on wet or uneven surfaces, which can make controlled driving a challenge.

Again, while heavier vehicles with robust chassis are often better at towing, this doesn’t automatically make large EVs suitable for towing heavy loads, and you should always check the manufacturer-rated towing capacity before hitching anything to your vehicle.

Battery Size & Efficiency

An EV’s battery size also plays a key role in determining how far the vehicle can go while towing. Larger batteries will come with a higher energy reserve, which will improve your potential towing range due to the fact that pulling a trailer increases power consumption. When your EV has a high-capacity, efficient battery, you’ll have less to worry about when it comes to driving speed, trailer weight, aerodynamics, and other factors affecting your range on a long journey.

Note that even with a powerful battery pack, covering long distances while towing with an EV may require additional stops. This is because many public charging points in the UK aren’t designed with trailer access in mind, and you may have to unhitch your caravan or trailer before you park up and start charging.

Regenerative Braking Benefits While Towing

Regenerative braking is one of the key features that helps your EV to conserve energy, and it can be particularly beneficial when you’re towing. This is because the additional weight of a trailer can help the regenerative braking system to divert more energy to the battery when you’re descending steep inclines, as opposed to a conventional braking setup that could overheat or experience wear more quickly.

How well your regenerative braking system will capture energy depends on the EV model you’re driving, and the weight of the trailer. Some electric cars will automatically adjust their regenerative braking based on the load it’s carrying, while others will require you to set it up manually via the infotainment system.

When you’re planning to tow with your EV, it’s important to research how your regenerative braking behaves under different towing conditions to ensure smooth performance and maximise energy efficiency.

Impact of Terrain and Driving Conditions

An EV’s towing efficiency can be heavily influenced by both the terrain you’re driving over and the ambient weather conditions.

Some of the key factors to bear in mind when you’re trying to adjust your towing to the route and weather conditions include:

• Going up steep inclines will drain your battery faster, while long downhill stretches help the regenerative braking system recover energy. Try to keep your route flat or downhill wherever possible to extend your towing range.
• EVs’ instant torque can increase the risk of wheel slip when driving in wet or icy conditions. Use the car’s “eco” or “tow” mode where available to regulate power delivery and maintain smooth handling.
• Trailers increase aerodynamic drag, especially when you’re driving at high speeds. Crosswinds can also affect your trailer’s stability when you’re on exposed motorways. You can mitigate these issues by keeping a steady speed, avoiding sudden acceleration, and ensuring proper weight distribution with your trailer.

How to Check an EV’s Towing Capacity

When you’re looking to confirm your EV towing capacity, there are a few key sources you can look at to make sure you’re getting accurate, official information.

These sources include:

• The manufacturer’s specifications listed in the car’s owners’ manual.
• The V5C logbook, specifically in section 4, Vehicle Details, under “Technical permissible maximum towable mass of the trailer”.
• The VIN plate’s maximum allowable mass and maximum train mass. Deducting the former from the latter will give you the vehicle towing limit.
• Various online tools and dealership guides let you enter a car’s reg and see important stats like its towing capacity. Just remember that these can have variable reliability, and resources from the manufacturer are always your most reliable option.

How Much Weight Can an Electric Car/Plug-in Hybrid Pull?

Although there are plenty of EV models capable of pulling trailers and caravans, there are certain mechanical features shared by all EVs that can make towing more challenging or complicated.

If you’re planning to buy a new car and want to make EV towing capacity a priority, it pays to familiarise yourself with some of the EV models that have a particularly good towing ability.

Here’s some EV models that are known for their towing ability and the maximum towing weights they’re capable of:

Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid: 3,500kg

Range Rover Sport PHEV: 3,000kg

BMW X5 xDrive45e PHEV: 2,700kg

BMW iX xDrive45: 2,500kg

Range Rover Velar PHEV: 2,000kg

MINI Electric Countryman: 1,200kg

Advantages of Towing With an EV

Instant torque: Unlike ICE vehicles, EVs deliver instant torque when towing, making it easier to accelerate from a standstill or tackle steep inclines. The lack of gear shifts also creates a smoother driving experience, which is particularly beneficial for hauling heavy loads and maintaining control.

Quieter towing: Despite having effective towing abilities, EVs are capable of operating much more quietly than ICE vehicles. This results in a more peaceful towing experience that can be especially important when towing caravans into campgrounds or hauling small trailers through residential areas.

Regenerative braking: EVs’ regenerative braking captures energy from the car’s braking system and diverts it back into the battery, helping to offset the increased energy consumption when towing in a way that ICE vehicles can’t. Regenerative braking also reduces the long-term wear on your brake pads, making the car easier to control when you’re descending hills while towing.

No tailpipe emissions: Unlike ICE vehicles designed specifically for towing, EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions, and the car’s impact on the local environment won’t be impacted by how heavy your trailer is. This can be especially appealing for anyone making the switch to an EV specifically to manage their carbon footprint.

Things to Consider

Reduced range: Towing can significantly reduce an EV’s normal range, depending on factors like trailer weight, terrain, and aerodynamics. Unlike with an ICE vehicle, this requires more forward-planning on your part to ensure your route has enough accessible charging stops to get you to your destination.

Limited towing capacity: While some EVs have been designed with towing in mind, others have lower tow ratings compared to comparable petrol or diesel models. Before you purchase an EV with a view to towing with it, it’s essential to check its towing capacity and how well this will accommodate the trips you’re planning.

Availability of charging stations: Some public EV chargers are located in car parks with tight spaces that may not accommodate a vehicle hauling a caravan or trailer. This makes it even more important to research your route in advance and check whether you’ll need to unhitch your trailer before plugging your vehicle in.