Towing with an EV: Can Electric Cars Tow Caravans & Trailers?
If you regularly tow a caravan or trailer with your petrol car, you’ve probably wondered if an EV can handle the weight. Will it just drain the battery too quickly and how do you stop to recharge with something in tow?
When you’re planning the switch to an electric car and you regularly tow, this is an important question to answer. You don’t want the day-to-day savings of an EV wiped out every time you take your boat to the water.
In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about towing with an electric car, from the actual towing capacities and real-world range expectations to some of the best electric cars for towing a caravan in the UK.
Can Electric Cars Tow Caravans and Trailers?
There are plenty of electric cars that can tow caravans, trailers, bike racks, and even horseboxes, provided the load stays within the manufacturer’s towing limit.
One of the biggest misconceptions our clients have about EVs is that they’re only suitable for commuting or short trips. In fact, today’s electric SUVs and family cars have been designed with towing in mind. Models such as the Tesla Model Y, Kia EV9, BMW iX and Audi Q6 e-tron all offer impressive towing capacities that rival many petrol and diesel alternatives.
That said, not every electric car is approved for towing. Some smaller EVs either have very low towing capacities or aren’t rated to tow at all. That’s why it’s important to check the vehicle’s specifications before pulling off with a caravan or trailer.
What Can an EV Tow?
The answer depends on the vehicle’s towing capacity, but many modern EVs can comfortably handle:
- Touring caravans
- Camping trailers
- Utility trailers
- Small boats
- Motorcycle trailers
- Horse trailers (with suitable towing capacity)
- Bike carriers and tow-bar mounted accessories
As a general rule, the heavier the caravan or trailer, the more important it becomes to choose an EV with a higher towing limit and a larger battery for improved range.
How Do You Know If an EV Can Tow Your Caravan?
You’ll need to compare your caravan’s fully loaded weight with your EV’s maximum braked towing capacity.
Say your caravan weighs 1,500kg when fully loaded, you’ll need an electric car that is approved to tow at least that amount.
It’s also important to consider payload, nose weight and the vehicle’s gross train weight, all of which we’ll explain later in this guide.
The important takeaway here is that electric cars can absolutely tow caravans and trailers. The real question is whether you’ve chosen the right EV for the type of towing you plan to do.
Why EVs Are Surprisingly Good Tow Cars
Towing has always been associated with large diesel SUVs and pickup trucks. After all, they’re powerful and built for hauling heavy loads.
But spend some time towing with an electric car and you’ll be surprised by how well it performs.
While range is the headline concern, electric cars actually have several characteristics that make them excellent tow vehicles.
Instant Torque Makes Pulling Away Easier
One of the biggest advantages of an electric motor is that it delivers maximum torque almost instantly.
On the road, that means smoother acceleration when pulling away from junctions or steep inclines. When you’re towing with an electric car and have a heavy load, that instant response makes the journey feel less stressful, especially when you’ve got to join fast-moving traffic.
Regenerative Braking Can Improve Control
A lot of modern EVs use regenerative braking to recover energy when slowing down. Instead of relying solely on the friction brakes, the electric motor helps reduce speed while feeding electricity back into the battery.
When towing, this gives a much smoother driving experience, particularly on long descents where maintaining a steady speed is important. You don’t get that slipping feeling of unexpectedly speeding up when you’re going downhill, so the drive feels that bit safer.
Low Centre of Gravity Improves Stability
The battery pack in an electric car is mounted low in the floor of the vehicle. This creates a lower centre of gravity than comparable petrol or diesel vehicles.
The result is improved stability, particularly when towing at motorway speeds or dealing with crosswinds. You get a more planted, confident feel behind the wheel.
How Much Range Do You Lose When Towing?
If you’re considering towing with an electric car, this is probably the question you care about most.
Electric car towing will reduce your driving range, sometimes quite significantly. However, the exact impact depends on what you’re towing, how fast you’re driving, and the conditions you’re driving in.
To give you a realistic expectation, you’ll see a range reduction of between 30% and 50% when towing a caravan or large trailer. In some cases, particularly with heavier caravans at motorway speeds, the reduction could be even greater.
The reason isn’t just the extra weight. In fact, aerodynamic drag has a bigger impact than the trailer itself. A large caravan creates more air resistance, forcing the EV to work harder to maintain speed and using more energy in the process.
Typical Range Expectations When Towing
|
Driving Scenario |
Estimated Range While Towing |
|
No trailer |
300 miles |
|
Small utility trailer |
220–250 miles |
|
Medium caravan |
170–210 miles |
|
Large caravan |
140–180 miles |
A 50% reduction feels huge, like you won’t make it to the end of your street once you hook up your caravan. But 170 miles of range on a single EV charge is still significant when driving in the UK, and you’ll still need to stop to recharge far less than you might fear.
We recommend starting every journey with a full battery from your home EV charger, planning public charging stops in advance, and allowing a little extra time for longer trips. Once you understand your vehicle’s real-world towing range, travelling with a caravan becomes much more predictable.
Understanding EV Towing Capacity
Every vehicle has specific weight limits set by the manufacturer, and exceeding them will impact safety and could even void your EV insurance cover.
Once you understand a few key terms, it’s relatively easy to determine whether an electric car is suitable for your towing needs.
Manufacturers usually provide two figures:
- Braked towing capacity: the maximum weight of a trailer or caravan equipped with its own braking system.
- Unbraked towing capacity: the maximum weight of a trailer without brakes, which is typically much lower.
For caravans and larger trailers, the braked towing capacity is the figure you’ll usually need to pay attention to. For example, if an EV has a braked towing capacity of 1,800kg, your fully loaded caravan should never exceed that weight.
What Is Gross Train Weight?
Gross Train Weight (GTW) is the maximum combined weight of:
- The vehicle
- Passengers
- Luggage
- The trailer or caravan
- Everything being carried inside it
Even if your caravan falls within the towing limit, you must still ensure the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer remains within the Gross Train Weight specified by the manufacturer.
What Is Nose Weight?
Nose weight refers to the downward force that the trailer or caravan places on the tow ball.
Too little nose weight can make a trailer unstable and prone to swaying. Too much can overload the tow bar and make handling tougher.
What Is Kerb Weight?
Kerb weight is the weight of the vehicle itself, including fluids and a full battery, but without passengers or cargo.
Seasoned caravan owners stick to the 85% guideline, which suggests that a fully loaded caravan should weigh no more than 85% of the towing vehicle’s kerb weight.
Key Towing Terms Explained
| Term | What It Means |
| Towing Capacity | Maximum weight the vehicle can legally tow |
| Braked Trailer | Trailer fitted with its own braking system |
| Unbraked Trailer | Trailer without brakes |
| Gross Train Weight (GTW) | Combined maximum weight of vehicle and trailer |
| Nose Weight | Downward force applied to the tow ball |
| Kerb Weight | Weight of the vehicle before passengers and luggage |
Two EVs may have similar driving ranges, but very different towing capacities, making one a far better choice for caravan owners than the other.
Charging an EV While Towing
Towing a caravan or trailer doesn’t fundamentally change how you charge your vehicle, but it does mean you’ll need to be a little more strategic about where and when you stop.
For starters, you’ll need to charge more often on longer journeys than you would during everyday driving.
Why Some Charging Stations Can Be Challenging
Charging bays are designed for cars only, just like petrol stations are. So you might have to unhitch before plugging in. While this isn’t always necessary, it can add time and inconvenience to longer journeys, so it is something to consider.
Many charging providers are introducing larger bays and pull-through charging spaces designed to accommodate vehicles with trailers attached, so look for these using an EV charger app to find the easiest stations to use on your trip.
Look for:
- Service stations with spacious parking areas
- Pull-through charging bays
- Charging hubs with multiple chargers available (so you can block two and charge while hitched)
- Locations with amenities for longer charging breaks
- Sites that are easy to access without complex manoeuvring
Why Home Charging Matters Even More for Caravan Owners
You’ll rely on commercial EV charging on longer trips, but home charging is where most EV owners do the majority of their charging.
For caravan owners, having a dedicated home charger means starting every journey with a full battery and cheaper overnight electricity rates to keep costs down.
If you’re planning to switch to an EV and tow regularly, installing a home charger will make ownership far more convenient. Rather than stopping to top up before every trip, you can simply plug in overnight and wake up ready to go.
Ready to get a reliable home charger installed? At ProEV we have a range of home chargers that make towing that little bit easier. Get in touch with our experts today, and we’ll give you our advice on the best charger to keep you covered!
Get in touch for a free consultation today
Frequently Asked Questions About Towing with an EV
Can an electric car tow a caravan?
Yes, many modern electric cars can tow caravans. The Kia EV9, BMW iX, Audi Q6 e-tron and Tesla Model Y all offer manufacturer-approved towing capacities suitable for many touring caravans. But always check the vehicle’s maximum braked towing capacity before towing.
How much range do EVs lose when towing?
Most electric cars lose between 30% and 50% of their normal driving range when towing. The exact reduction depends on trailer weight, caravan size, driving speed, weather conditions, and terrain.
What is the best electric car for towing a caravan?
The best electric car for towing a caravan depends on your requirements, but popular options include the Kia EV9, BMW iX, Audi Q6 e-tron and Polestar 3. These models combine strong towing capacities with large batteries and practical driving ranges.
Does towing damage an EV battery?
Towing increases energy consumption and reduces range, but it doesn’t damage the battery when carried out within the manufacturer’s approved towing limits. Electric vehicles are designed to handle the additional demands of towing when used correctly.
Can an electric car tow a horse trailer?
Some can. Larger electric SUVs with higher towing capacities may be suitable for towing horse trailers. However, horse trailers can be heavy, so it’s essential to check both the trailer’s loaded weight and the vehicle’s maximum towing capacity before travelling.
Do I need a special tow bar for an electric car?
Most EVs that are approved for towing use vehicle-specific tow bars designed for that model. It’s important to choose a tow bar that meets the manufacturer’s specifications and is professionally installed where required.
Is towing with an Electric car cheaper than towing with a diesel car?
In many cases, yes. Although towing reduces efficiency, charging an EV, particularly at home using off-peak electricity tariffs, can still cost less than refuelling a diesel tow vehicle. The exact savings will depend on electricity prices and the distance travelled.
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