Electric cars are amazing. We all know that.
There's mot much in life that beats being able to charge silently from nought to sixty in the time that it takes to open a newspaper, all whilst saving the planet with zero emissions at the same time. And the thought of going to the beach or the countryside with a caravan attached onto the back really would put the icing on the cake, wouldn't it?
So, can electric cars tow? The short answer is yes, but it can get a little complicated, so don't attach that caravan just yet . . .
The problem is that towing can obviously limit a vehicle's performance (electric cars not least of all), and only a handful of electric cars are actually legally permitted to tow.
In this post, we'll be telling you why that is, whilst also providing you with a list of some of the top electric cars for towing which you can pick up and lease today.
How Does Towing Affect Electric Driving?
With instant torque and seemingly unstoppable power from a standstill, you'd think that electric cars would be the bee's knees when it comes to towing. But towing a trailer simply isn't something that the majority of electric cars are designed to do. It's just not at the top of the priority list.
The weight of an electric car is one of the main reasons for that. The battery itself can weigh quite a bit, so due to that and other mechanical factors, electric vehicles tend to weigh more than standard cars, which means that all of their components (e.g. brakes, suspension etc.) are already under more pressure even without the added weight of a caravan or trailer.
Take a Nissan Leaf, for example. All of its batteries and extra weight means that the Leaf weighs around 300kg more than an equivalent petrol-run Volkswagen Golf, and the addition of a caravan or trailer is only going to add to that weight.
Another issue can be brake pressure and what happens when slowing down. A lot of electric vehicles use what's called regenerative braking, whereby braking puts energy back into the battery, or braking happens automatically when you lift your foot off the accelerator. This can then have an unwanted effect on any trailer that's being towed, especially if you're not paying much attention to the road ahead. An excess of kinetic energy created by the car and trailer together also has the potential to damage the powertrain.
How Many Electric Cars are Legally-Approved to Tow?
Unfortunately, whether an electric car can tow a caravan or a trailer is a very different question to whether it can legally tow a caravan or trailer. Because although many electric cars have no real mechanical issues with towing, only a select few are 'type-approved' and legally certified to do so.
Before a new car is launched, it has to pass through what's called 'homologation'. This is pretty much a testing process by the relevant authorities to ensure that the car meets all the legal requirements to be registered to tow on the road.
Sadly, most manufacturers haven't put their electric cars through the homologation process, and the reason for that isn't the most innocent. Basically, an electric car's range and efficiency would have to decrease if the manufacturer sought approval for towing, which wouldn't exactly look good for them. And obviously, most consumers care more about range than the ability to tow. So you can see where the problem arises . . .
The important thing is not to be tempted to ignore the rules and go on to tow anyway. The consequences can be severe if you do, such as having both your warranty and car insurance invalidated, not to mention the possibility of a heavy fine if you're pulled over by the police or involved in a collision. So make sure you 'tow' the line by staying on the right side of the law.
Range Anxiety: How Far Can an Electric Car Tow a Caravan?
Another potential issue is the range. Most electric vehicles will only travel for a couple of hundred miles on a single charge of their battery anyway. But now imagine that you're hauling a great big caravan on the back of one, and you can imagine how the range might go down by a fair bit . . .
General rule of thumb: when towing, an electric car's regular range will be reduced by up to 50%. Now, that's obviously not going to be accurate all the time, as it can depend on the individual car, how aerodynamic it is, and the weight of the caravan/trailer, among other factors. But it is still generally a good rule to follow, as the percentage is never going to differ too drastically from 50%. This is an important fact to remember as well, because most electric cars on a fully-charged battery can't travel as far as petrol and diesel cars can on a full tank of gas.
Which brings us nicely on to the next point, because as well as the range, you should also be looking at the electric car's rate of charge when it comes to towing. Let's say you reach the maximum range and break down on a long stretch of motorway when towing. You obviously want to charge your car back up to full power as quickly as possible, so in addition to the range, the rate of charge is an equally important consideration. And that's just as true if you're not towing, as well.
And just while we're on the topic of range, why not check out our post on the electric cars with the longest range.
The Best Electric Cars for Towing a Caravan
As you've no doubt realised by now, not all electric cars are created equal.
Only a certain number are legally certified to tow and, of those that do, some either don't have a very generous towing capacity or they have to sacrifice a lot in the way of speed and handling for the pleasure.
Each electric vehicle is rated to tow a different amount of weight, so always check the weight of what you'll be towing against the capacity of the car. And just to clarify, the specified weight is for the weight that the car is carrying, not including any passengers in the actual car.
Most electric vehicles that are suitable for towing can tow anywhere between 1500kg and 2500kg worth of weight. This means that while most cars can tow, they aren't capable of towing all caravan types.
So to help sift the wheat from the chaff, we've picked out some of the strongest contenders for towing a caravan or trailer in the form of a list, hopefully making things nice and easy for you. Needless to say, all of the following have been legally approved for towing.
Polestar 2 (Towing Capacity 1,500kg)
With a towing capacity of 1,500kg on either the entry-level single motor or the four-wheel drive flagship, the Polestar 2 hauls significantly more than its Model 3 rival. It arguably handles nicer as well, with better steer and good balance. The Polestar 2 features 150kW fast charging, all-wheel drive and a range of 235 miles, which translates to a towing range of roughly 117 miles.
Genesis GV70 Towing Capacity 1,800kg)
Despite being a relative newcomer to Europe and the electric car market in general, Genesis has still managed to make a fairly strong impression in the towing department. With a maximum towing capacity of 1800kg, the GV70 offers accurate handling, a refined drive, a luxurious, well-equipped cabin, and linear power delivery – more than matching what any rival has to throw at it.
BMW i7 (Towing Capacity 2,000kg)
The electric version of the luxury saloon 7 Series, the i7 offers a generous 2,000kg towing capacity (more than that of the Mercedes-Benz EQS). And just in case your maths isn't quite up to scratch, that equates to a range of 193 miles when towing a trailer.
BMW iX (Towing Capacity 2,500kg)
Not the most affordable car by any stretch of the imagination, the BMW iX does however top the charts as the pure electric car with the highest permissible towing capacity, at 2,500kg.
But when towing something heavy, just don't expect to get anywhere near the maximum estimated range of 348 miles on a single charge. The fast charging speed of the iX does help make up for this though.
Audi e-Tron (Towing Capacity 1,800kg)
Although being somewhat on the heavier side for an electric car, the e-Tron does offer you rapid acceleration, an impressive towing capacity of 1,800kg (the same as its Mercedes-Benz EQC rival), not to mention a near 250-mile electric range (translating to approximately 125 miles when towing), all of which will set you well on your way. And at 605-litres capacity, there's also serious boot space for anything that's not going to squeeze into the trailer or caravan.
Drivers have the choice of regular e-Tron models or the sportier-looking e-Tron Sportback models with a sloping roofline, as well as performance-orientated ’S’ editions of both. Confusing, right?
Tesla Model 3 (Towing Capacity 1,000kg)
We bet you like the Model 3, but we also bet you didn't think of it as a tow car. It only comes with a 1,000kg towing capacity, meaning you'll only be able to tow small caravans and trailers. But frankly, for such a nice car to be able to tow anything at all feels like a luxury in itself.
The real-world range of the Long Range Dual Motor is 290 miles, offering a towing range of approximately 145 miles. The Long Range AWD is likely the best option here, as its got a 360-mile range per charge rate. And as with most Teslas, you'll get access to the Tesla Supercharger network, giving you nationwide rapid charging. The vehicle’s handling is excellent, and the performance isn't too shabby either.
Hyundai IONIQ 5 (Towing Capacity 1,600kg)
Even at entry-level, all IONIQs are able to take the addition of a towbar, and the IONIQ 5 offers a compelling package with its 1,600kg towing capacity (for both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive models), impressive 221 kW fast/rapid charging and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capabilities, n0t to mention low running costs and high practicality – some of the biggest selling points for the IONIQ 5.
The IONIQ 5 is also particularly sleek, with sophisticated interiors. Best of all, it offers some real muscle too.
Mercedes-Benz EQC (Towing Capacity 1,800kg)
Signalling tough competition for the Audi e-Tron, this is another electric SUV boasting comfort and the ability to tow. You're looking at a towing capacity of up to 1,800kg and a real-world range of around 250 miles, which translates to a towing range of somewhere between 100 and 130 miles (varying depending on how heavy the caravan is that you're towing).
Even better, with a 500-litre boot, there's plenty of excess space in the back, so if you can't fit something into the trailer or caravan, you know where to put it.
What About Hybrids?
If fully-electric cars aren't quite to your taste, then a hybrid could be worth looking into, as some of these are capable of towing a caravan as well (both the plug-in and non plug-in varieties).
In case you didn't know, hybrids are basically part-electric vehicles which come with at least one electric motor as well as an internal combustion engine (i.e. meaning diesel or petrol), and if you want to find out more about their strengths and weaknesses, check out our guide on hybrid vehicles.
They're probably a safer bet than fully electric vehicles when it comes to towing, actually. That's because plug-in hybrids aren't subject to the same worries regarding range and regenerative braking, therefore putting less strain on the vehicle's motor and transmission. (This could change though as technology improves and manufacturers improve fully-electric vehicle mass, range and charging times.)
And the good news is that some do allow you to drive around 25 miles on pure electric power alone, meaning if you want a vehicle with some zero-emission range but with a normal engine for those long-distance trips, then a hybrid is the way to go. The same 50% range rule applies when towing. Most plug-in hybrids will give you up to around 30 miles solely on electric power when fully charged. But add in the weight of a caravan, however, and you can expect this to drop dramatically, meaning less distance travelled on electricity and more fuel burnt.
Traditionally, Lexus has been the standout producer of hybrid (non-plugin) towing vehicles for the best part of a decade. But in recent years the field has levelled out and other manufacturers have started to chip in, which can only be good for competition. Here's some of our top picks.
Land Rover Range Rover Sport (Towing Capacity 3,000kg)
The latest versions of the Range Rover Sport PHEV models quote an official electric range of up to 70 miles. It won't lift a woolly mammoth, but with a 3,000kg towing capacity, the Range Rover Sport should be a candidate for the top of your list. That's 500kg more than the full-sized regular Range Rover PHEV models.
Volvo XC60 Twin Engine/Recharge (Towing Capacity 1,600kg)
The plug-in hybrid variant of the Swedish SUV has an enormous 598-litre boot for all of your clobber, while the inside is very spacious and finished with a cool, minimalist design
A 2.0-litre petrol engine works in unison with an electric motor to produce a grand total of 395hp (a special edition T8 Polestar-engineered version takes that further up to 411hp). The EV range is 46 miles. Pair that with the car's cool, minimalist design and you've got one great vehicle ready to tow.
When (if?) space runs out in the caravan you're towing, simply take advantage of this Swedish SUV's enormous 598-litre boot. Not the same storage levels in IKEA, certainly, but still enough . . .
Volkswagen Golf GTE (Towing Capacity 1,600kg)
Who'd have thought it? A Golf that can tow. Capable of towing weights up to 1,600kg, the Golf GTE is yet another great plug-in hybrid option. It's been around since 2015, although sales halted towards the end of 2018.
It's practical, performance is good, and features a spacious interior that feels like it's built to last. The small 8.8kWh battery is good for up to 30 miles of electric-only range on a full charge, and if you make full use of this with regular charging, Volkswagen claims you could achieve 166mpg.
Topping up the battery via cable should take just over two hours using a dedicated home charging unit, or just less than four hours using a domestic three-pin socket.
Summary
That about covers it on this topic, amigos.
Whilst it's a fact that the majority of electric cars on the market today aren't legally permitted to tow a caravan (in fact, most aren't legally permitted to tow any trailer at all), the range of electric cars on offer is expanding at a rapid rate, particularly with the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars on the horizon.
As such, it'd be reasonable for you to expect more (and more affordable) electric cars capable of towing caravans to pop up within the next few years. And likewise, we're bound to see a time when manufacturers aren't reluctant to get their electric models 'type-approved' legally for towing.
Happy towing.
FAQs
Are electric cars capable of towing?
You'll find that most are, but only a select few have been legally approved to tow.
Are electric cars good for towing caravans?
Depends how you define 'good', but electric vehicles legally-approved for towing won't suffer any drastic problems, although acceleration and braking may suffer.
Can any electric cars tow?
As mentioned before, only a select few have been approved for towing on the roads. And the maximum amount of weight that can be towed will differ between models.
Which EVs can tow a caravan?
A fair few, including the BMW iX, the Polestar 2, the Hyundai IONIQ 5, as well as most Tesla models.
Can a Nissan Leaf tow a caravan?
Yes, the Nissan Leaf can tow up to 1,500-lbs of payload, including the weight of the trailer.