One of the biggest misconceptions with electric cars is that they can’t be used to tow a caravan or trailer.
But the truth is that three in five new electric vehicles (EVs) on the market today have hauling capabilities.
In fact, the best EVs for towing have recently been revealed by motoring experts who have named which models should be top of the wish list of eco-conscious camping enthusiasts.
What Car? has also listed the electric cars with the biggest towing capacity.
Can you tow with an electric car? Almost three in five EV models is showrooms today have the capacity to lug a trailer or caravan
It comes after the consumer title found in a recent survey of 1,052 drivers that two in five (40 per cent) didn’t think an EV was capable of pulling a trailer or caravan at all.
The same poll also found that three quarters (76 per cent) would not consider an electric car if they had to use it for towing, while three in ten (29 per cent) of these had major concerns about the maximum towing capacity of an EV.
But What Car? says that 50 of the 85 electric models on the market today can be used to tow, according to the manufacturers. That represents 59 per cent of the total EV market.
In fact, eight battery cars are rated to pull up to 1,800kg.
That said, towing a caravan or trailer can dramatically impact the performance of an EV.
Experts at car leasing comparison site LeaseLoco state that towing a trailer ‘simply isn’t something that the majority of electric cars are designed to do’.
There are some potential issues to consider when towing a trailer or caravan with an EV, as pointed out by leasing comparison site, LeaseLoco
The leasing firm says: ‘The battery [in an EV] 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.
‘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. An excess of kinetic energy created by the car and trailer together also has the potential to damage the powertrain.’
And the award for best electric tow car goes to…
In its towing awards, What Car? gave the EV gong to Kia’s EV6, which starts from £45,245.
While it has a maximum towing capacity of 1,600kg – which is suitable to pull a medium-size caravan – the team of expert judges, including members of the Camping and Caravanning Club, said the Kia’s recommendation isn’t merely based on the official towing capacity.
Instead, it said a mark of its all-round capabilities when put through rigorous assessments both on the road and at a private test track.
This includes an emergency lane change with a caravan hitched as well as a hill start on a steep slope.
Judges also looked at practicality, costs and what the cars were like when driven without a caravan.
The Kia EV6 has been named the electric tow car of the year by What Car? in its recent awards
What Car? editor Steve Huntingford said: ‘More and more electric cars can now be used for towing, yet our survey highlights a significant proportion of motorists remain unaware of this.
‘As What Car?’s research shows, a number of electric cars currently come with maximum towing capacities equivalent to those found in petrol and diesel models, and this will only grow.
‘That said, while an electric tow car will already suit some people brilliantly, petrol, hybrid and even diesel models remain better choices for others. No matter what your priorities, we’re confident you’ll find your ideal tow car among our winners.’
Rob Ganley, editor-in-chief of the Club’s monthly magazine, Camping & Caravanning, said: ‘It’s vital we continue to understand how EVs perform when it comes to towing, which also has to be set against a backdrop of affordability, increasing running costs and buying second-hand models.
‘Our testing programme gives expert insight on a wide range of subjects so that consumers can make informed decisions when buying their next tow car.’
Eight EVs with a maximum towing capacity of 1,800kg
What Car? has listed the eight electric cars on sale today with the largest quoted towing capacity of 1,800kg.
These are the maximum braked capacities, and drivers looking to purchase an EV to pull a caravan or trailer should speak to their local dealer or the manufacturer to better understand how much they can tow.
Audi Q8 e-tron
Price: from £72,235
The first EV on our list with a 1,800kg maximum brakes towing capacity is the expensive Audi Q8 e-tron
Among the eight electric cars with the biggest towing capacities is Audi’s Q8 e-tron.
However, this isn’t a cheap caravan-pulling family motor. The luxury SUV – which has a range of up to 330 miles on a single charge – starts at an eye-watering £72,000.
Genesis GV70
Price: from £65,105
With a towing capacity of 1,800kg, the Genesis GV70 is another luxury SUV with a high asking price
Another luxury SUV that’s capable of towing up to 1,800kg is the Genesis GV70.
If you don’t know this brand, Genesis is the premium marque in the Hyundai Motor Group and specialises in electrified models. This one isn’t what you’d call cheap, ringing in at over £65,000 for a spacious SUV with 283 miles of range between charges.
Kia EV6 GT
Price: from £62,645
The EV6 GT is the performance version of Kia’s EV6 electric model. It also has a bigger towing capacity
The EV6 GT is the more potent variant of the Kia EV6 – the model What Car? deemed worthy of the 2023 award for best electric tow car. It also boasts a 263-mile range.
While the standard model can pull up to 1,600kg in weight, the GT version has capacity to tow up to 1,800kg. Starting at £62,645, that additional pulling power over the conventional EV6 does come at a rather hefty cost.
Mercedes-Benz EQA (300/350 variants)
Price: from £53,010
The entry EQA 250 4Matic variant can’t match the 300 and 350’s 1,800kg towing capacity
Only the EQA 300 and 350 4Matic variants have the higher towing capacity of 1,800kg, meaning you have to pay in excess of £53,000 if you want to haul something behind your electric Mercedes SUV.
With a range of between 260 and 268 miles, expect this to come down somewhat if you have something heavy hitched.
Mercedes-Benz EQC
Price: from £74,330
With a price tag of almost £75k and a range of just over 250 miles, the Mercedes EQC is an expensive way of pulling a caravan
There’s definitely a trend in this list, which is seemingly made up of only expensive SUV models.
The EQC is no different with a starting price of £74,330 and a range of just 254 miles between charges. That gets you 1,800kg of towing capacity.
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
Price: from £129,470
The Mercedes EQS SUV is the most expensive model in this list and it’s exceptionally pricey at almost £130k
You’ll need for fork out almost £130,000 if you want this caravan-pulling EV. That’s because it’s Mercedes’ version of a jacked-up luxury limo – the EQS SUV.
Crammed with tech and pure luxury, it can tow up to 1,800kg.
Volvo C40 Recharge (Twin variant)
Price: from £59,750
Volvos are a favourite among the caravanning community, and this compact C40 Recharge is up to the task
Volvo’s latest all-electric compact SUV is the svelte C40 Recharge.
Only the twin-motor variants – offering a range of 273 miles – have the full 1,800kg lugging capacity, which means prices start from just under £60,000.
Volvo XC40 Recharge (Twin variant)
Price: from £61,855
The twin-motor Volvo XC40 Recharge is another small electric SUV with pulling power
The more practical option to the C40 Recharge is Volvo’s XC40 Recharge. Again, you will need to move up to the twin-motor variants to get 1,800 of maximum towing capacity.
This means costs start from almost £62,000.
