SUMMER is just around the corner and you might be planning a caravan get-away.
If that's the case then it's important be aware if you can use your electric car to tow. Here's all you need to know.
Can an electric car tow a caravan?
Electric cars can indeed tow a caravan.
According to Buy A Car, towing with an electric car is better than diesel or petrol cars.
Electronic cars are at an advantage as they produce a lot more torque, or power, at a low engine speed.
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However, a Tesla would produce a lot more pulling power than the more affordable Renault Zoe.
The batteries in electric cars weigh a lot which make the car heavier.
So you can have a smaller electric car that is heavy enough to pull a caravan.
Just like petrol and diesel cars, the performance of a charged battery can reduce when towing a heavy load.
So if you are towing in an electric car, that you have your charge points mapped out on your route to maintain enough battery.
What weight can electric cars tow?
The weight an electric car is able to tow depends on the car passing a process called homologation.
The two key figures you want to look for when choosing a tow car are maximum braked and unbraked trailer weight.
If a model doesn’t have these figures published, the chances are it’s not approved for towing.
The towing capacity of a car is the maximum weight that it can legally and safely tow.
All trailers or caravans will also have a maximum authorised mass (MAM).
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When looking for an electric car that can tow, the salesperson should be able to inform you of the cars' abilities.
According to the RAC, tow car experts recommend a process called ‘outfit matching’.
This means discovering the maximum technically permissible laden mass (MTPLM).
This figure should not be more than 85% of the car. Divide the MTPLM by 0.85 to find the target weight of the car.
All drivers are allowed to tow trailers with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of up to 3,500kg without the need to take a car and trailer driving test.
Drivers who passed their test before 1 January 1997 are allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg MAM.
Here is Car Wow's top 10 electric vehicles for towing:
- BMW iX: 2,500kg
- Mercedes EQC: 1,800kg
- Hyundai Ioniq 5: 1,600kg
- Kia EV6: 1,600kg
- Polestar 2: 1,500kg
- Skoda Enyaq: 1,000kg (RWD) 1,200kg (AWD)
- Tesla Model 3: 1,000kg
- Volkswagen ID 4: 998kg
- Jaguar I-Pace: 750kg
- BMW iX3: 750kg
Can you tow with a hybrid?
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.
The following plug in hybrid cars can tow:
- Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
- Volvo XC90 T8
- Volvo XC60 T8, this car has a limit of 2,100kg limit
- Audi Q7 e-tron
- Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid manages up to 3,500kg