Can you tow with an electric car?

Until recently, electric cars generally weren’t rated for towing. They remained niche choices next to the internal combustion mainstream, so manufacturers didn’t spend money on the extra certification required to pull a trailer.

This changed as the electric car market has matured and more EV models have become available, however – great news for caravanners and occasional tip-runners alike.

The best tow cars with petrol and diesel engines are still generally rated for larger loads than electric cars but many larger EVs will offer more than enough capacity for most users, while even some smaller models will be rated to tow a small unbraked trailer.

If towing is a major part of your motoring life you needn't exclude electrified vehicles completely from your shopping list, but make sure you do your research before taking the plunge so that you fully understand what each vehicle can tow safely and legally before you buy.

How much can an electric car tow? 

The official towing weight for electric cars varies from model to model, and also depends on what sort of trailer is being towed – braked or unbraked. The weight limit for the former is always lower than for the latter. 

One of the best electric towing cars available is the Tesla Model X and perfectly illustrates the differences between braked and unbraked towing capacity. In its top-of-the-range Plaid specification, the Model X is capable of towing a braked trailer weighing up to 2,250kg – more than enough for a caravan or larger trailer – but its unbraked limit sits at 750kg. The Audi Q6 e-tron pips the Tesla’s braked figure at 2,400kg, but its unbraked limit is the same at 750kg. These figures are not far away from what you might expect from an equivalent petrol or diesel car. 

At the other end of the market an entry-level Hyundai Ioniq 5 can only manage 750kg regardless of a trailer’s braking system; upgrading to the Long Range car increases the braked weight limit to 1,600kg.

Interestingly, some very powerful electric cars are not rated for towing at all. The Porsche Taycan in all its forms has not been type-approved for towing, nor its Audi e-tron GT sister car. Porsche buyers can specify a rear bike rack that attaches to dedicated mounts, but that’s it.

The lowest-rated electric car we could find at time of writing was the Hyundai Kona Electric in 48kWh guise, which can handle 300kg of braked or unbraked weight. The Citroen e-C3 with its 44kWh is next on the list with 350kg in both categories – still enough to take a small trailer. 

Do electric cars make good towing vehicles? 

The main reason that larger diesel engines are the traditional choice for towing is torque, which is generally delivered low in a diesel’s rev-range and makes pulling trailers a doddle. 

Electric cars have the benefit of powerful and near instant torque at any speed thanks to the linear nature of an electric motor’s power delivery. This means it’s surprisingly easy to get rolling when towing with an electric car.

While the performance of electric powertrains is ideally suited to towing, it’s worth nothing that towing with an EV will drastically affect battery range. Moreover, stopping to charge an electric car with a caravan attached isn’t exactly an easy task at most charging spots.

If your use case for a tow car is going on regular long-distance caravan holidays it’s likely that sticking with a diesel or petrol tow car might be more convenient. The reduction in range and difficulty fitting into public charging bays with a trailer attached could make like with an EV difficult. If you typically tow for shorter distances, however, an electric car could be ideal. 

Which electric cars can tow the heaviest trailers?

While the phenomenon hasn’t quite reached the UK yet, some seriously impressive electric tow cars are already available in the US, a market with an appetite for large, powerful pick-up trucks.

The Rivian R1T, for example, can haul 4,989kg, while the Ford F-150 Lightning can managed 10,000lbs – or around 4,535kg. 

While some of these cars may make it to the UK in due course, not all of us would be allowed to make full use of those capacities: drivers with a standard licence can only tow a maximum of 3,500kg, although those who passed before 1 January 1997 are allowed a combined maximum weight (car and trailer) of 8,250kg.

Can plug-in hybrids tow?

According to the Caravan and Motorhome Club, hybrid cars are the best choice for anyone who wants to use an alternative-fuel vehicle for towing a caravan. 

Hybrids have a great combination of performance and economy when towing – and refuelling on the go is a little easier if you’re caught short.

In fact, there are several plug-in hybrid vehicles certified for towing, including the Land Rover Defender P400e, Toyota RAV4, Lexus NX 450h+ and BMW X5 xDrive50e

The Defender is as brawny as you would hope, with a 3,000kg braked rating. That’s down 500kg from the diesel equivalent, but still more than any electric car available in the UK. The X5 gets close with its 2,700kg rating.

The Toyota RAV4 isn’t intended as a working vehicle but can still hold its own, with a braked limit of 1,500kg – the same as its Lexus NX sibling. 

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