Towing and electric cars: Tips and guide for caravans
Last updated July 12th, 2023
Back in the early days of electric cars, you might have struggled to find a model that could effectively tow your caravan or trailer.
Luckily, that is no longer the case today. A quick search of today’s market will show a wide choice of dependable electric cars with powerful towing capacities.
In this guide, we will cover the maximum towing weights for a selection of market-leading electric vehicles, why some EVs are not suited to towing activities – and how towing affects electric range.
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Can I tow using an electric vehicle?
Yes, it is possible to tow using an electric vehicle.
Many electric cars are equipped with sufficient power and torque to tow light-to-moderate loads, but towing capacity varies from model to model. So, be sure to check the specific towing capabilities of the EV you are interested in if you intend to tow with it.
Some newer electric cars are even designed with towing in mind - and come with a dedicated towing mode or package.
To work out how much weight your vehicle can safely tow, use our towing capacity calculator.
If you decide to use your electric car for towing activities, you should also be aware that different speed limits may apply when towing a caravan or trailer.
Which electric cars can tow?
Many electric vehicles are capable of towing. The following models boast some of the highest towing weights on the EV market:
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Kia EV6: 1600kg maximum towing weight.
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Genesis GV60: 1600kg maximum towing weight.
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Hyundai Ioniq 5: 1600kg maximum towing weight.
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BMW i4: 1600kg maximum towing weight.
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Volvo XC40 AWD: 1800kg maximum towing weight.
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Mercedes-Benz EQA: 1800kg maximum towing weight.
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Audi Q8 e-tron: 1800kg maximum towing weight.
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Tesla Model X: 2268kg maximum towing weight.
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BMW iX: 2500kg maximum towing weight.
Why aren’t all electric cars capable of towing?
Electric cars often have a significantly heavier kerb weight than that their combustion engine equivalents.
Additional weight can increase the strain on electric vehicles. This particularly affects the brakes, which would have to stop more weight than they were designed to. Towing heavy loads can also cause a substantial drain on electric car batteries, which may make towing impractical for models with an already limited range.
How does towing affect an electric vehicle’s range?
Just like how towing with a combustion engine will increase the amount of fuel burned, towing with an EV will reduce its range, making it necessary to charge your electric car more frequently.
This is because additional payload weight from passengers or cargo can impact real-world range. Wind drag is also a factor - and adding a boxy trailer or caravan to the back of your EV will have an adverse effect on aerodynamics and range.
