Contrary to popular belief, you can tow a trailer or caravan with an electric car. Indeed, figures from What Car? reveal that more than half of the electric cars currently on sale can be used for towing duties.
That said, not every electric car can tow a trailer or caravan, even if an abundance of instant electric torque should make them ideal for the job. It all comes down to whether or not the EV in question has been approved to tow.
This is a process called Vehicle Type Approval. According to the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA), it provides ‘confirmation that production samples of a type of vehicle, vehicle system, component or separate technical unit will meet specified performance standards’. One of the categories is towing.
Some car manufacturers choose not to go through the process, even if their cars could theoretically tow a trailer. For a family SUV such as the Nissan Ariya, type approval would make sense, but it could be overkill for an electric city car or supermini.
At the time of writing (May 2024), the following new electric cars have been approved to tow:
The BMW iX, Kia EV9, Polestar 3 and Volvo EX90 are four cars to consider if you’re looking to tow a large trailer or caravan. Note: the list is based on new cars available to buy right now.
Aside from the fact that some car manufacturers choose not to take their EVs through the type approval process, there are other reasons why electric cars cannot tow.
Firstly, the extra weight behind the car would increase the workload for the electric motor(s), reducing the available battery range. This weight would also put significant strain on the car’s braking system.
Secondly, most regenerative braking systems are calibrated to the specific weight of the vehicle, meaning a caravan or trailer could disrupt the car’s electronics.
Remember, even if your electric car can tow a trailer or caravan, the projected range will be lower when you’ve got something hitched up to the tow bar. Be prepared for more charging stops on a long journey.
Electric cars performed well at the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Towcar of the Year Awards in 2024. The Volkswagen ID.Buzz was a class winner in the ‘caravans under 1,100kg’ category, while the Skoda Enyaq Coupe was the best in the 1,100kg to 1,300kg class.
Elsewhere, the Polestar 2 was named the winner in the 1,500kg to 1,700kg class, while the Nissan Ariya was named the best electric vehicle tow car.
Meanwhile, the Kia EV6 was crowned the best electric car at the What Car? Tow Car Awards 2023.
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