Can you tow a caravan with an electric car?

One of the biggest misconceptions about electric cars is that they cannot be used to tow a caravan or trailer.

But the truth is that three out of five new electric vehicles (EVs) on the market today have traction.

In fact, the best electric cars to tow were recently revealed by car experts who named which models should be at the top of the wish list of eco-conscious camping enthusiasts.

Which car? has also listed the electric cars with the highest towing capacity.

It comes after the consumer title that a recent survey of 1,052 drivers found that two in five (40 per cent) thought an electric car was completely incapable of towing a trailer or caravan.

The same poll also found that three-quarters (76 percent) would not consider an EV if they had to use it to tow, while three in ten (29 percent) of them were very concerned about the maximum towing capacity of an EV. .

But which car? says 50 of the 85 electric models currently on the market can be used for towing, according to the manufacturers. That represents 59 percent of the total EV market.

In fact, eight battery cars are capable of towing up to 1,800 kg.

That said, towing a caravan or trailer can have a dramatic impact on the performance of an electric car.

Experts from comparison site LeaseLoco state that towing a trailer is ‘simply not something most electric cars are designed for’.

The lease company says: ‘The battery [in an EV] themselves can weigh quite a bit so because of that and other mechanical factors electric vehicles tend to weigh more than standard cars meaning all of their components (e.g. brakes, suspension etc) are already under more stress even without the added weight of a caravan or trailer.

“Another problem could be brake pressure and what happens when you decelerate.

‘Many electric vehicles use so-called regenerative braking, where energy is returned to the battery when braking, or braking happens automatically when you take your foot off the accelerator.

“This can then have an undesirable effect on any trailer that is towed. Excess kinetic energy created by the car and trailer together can also damage the powertrain.”

And the award for best electric towing vehicle goes to…

In his drag awards, What Car? gave the EV chime to Kia’s EV6, which starts from £45,245.

Although it has a maximum towing capacity of 1,600kg – which is suitable for towing a medium-sized caravan – the team of expert judges, including members of the Camping and Caravanning Club, said the Kia’s recommendation is not based solely on the official draw weight. capacity.

Instead, he said a sign of his all-round abilities when subjected to rigorous assessments both on the road and at a private test track.

This includes changing hard shoulder with a trailer attached and starting on a steep slope.

Judges also looked at practicality, cost and what the cars were like when driven without a caravan.

Which car? editor Steve Huntingford said: ‘More and more electric cars can now be used for towing, but our research shows that a significant proportion of motorists are still unaware of this.

‘As in the What Car? as it turns out, a number of electric cars currently have a maximum towing capacity equal to that of petrol and diesel models, and this will only increase.

That said, while an electric tow car will look great on some people, petrol, hybrid and even diesel models remain better choices for others. Whatever your priorities, we are confident that you will find your ideal towing vehicle among our winners.”

Rob Ganley, editor-in-chief of the Club’s monthly magazine, Camping & Caravanning, said: ‘It is vital that we continue to understand how electric cars perform when it comes to towing, which also has to be set against a backdrop of affordability, increasing use costs and buying used models.

“Our testing program provides expert insight on a wide range of topics, enabling consumers to make informed decisions when purchasing their next tow vehicle.”

Eight EVs with a maximum towing capacity of 1,800 kg

Which car? has made a list of the eight electric cars on sale today with the largest stated towing capacity of 1,800 kg.

These are the maximum braking capacities, and drivers looking to buy an electric car to tow a caravan or trailer should talk to their local dealer or the manufacturer to better understand how much they can tow.

Audi Q8 etron

Price: from £72,235

Among the eight electric cars with the highest towing capacity is Audi’s Q8 e-tron.

However, this is not a cheap family motor that pulls a caravan. 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

Another luxury SUV that can tow up to 1,800 kg is the Genesis GV70.

If you don’t know this brand: Genesis is the premium brand of the Hyundai Motor Group and specializes in electrified models. This one isn’t what you’d call cheap, priced at over £65,000 for a roomy SUV with 283 miles of range between charges.

Kia EV6GT

Price: from £62,645

The EV6 GT is the more powerful variant of the Kia EV6 – the What Car? deemed worthy of the 2023 award for Best Electric Tow Car. It also has a range of 263 miles.

While the standard model can tow up to 1,600 kg, the GT version has a towing capacity of up to 1,800 kg. From £62,645 that extra pulling power over the conventional EV6 comes at a pretty hefty cost.

Mercedes-Benz EQA (300/350 variants)

Price: from £53,010

Only the EQA 300 and 350 4Matic variants have the higher towing capacity of 1,800kg, meaning you’ll need to shell out over £53,000 if you want to tow something behind your electric Mercedes SUV.

With a range of between 260 and 268 miles, expect this to drop slightly if you’ve got something heavy hitched.

Mercedes Benz EQC

Price: from £74,330

There’s definitely a trend in this list, which seemingly only consists of expensive SUV models.

The EQC is no different with a starting price of £74,330 and a range of just 400km between charges. This results in a towing capacity of 1,800 kg.

Mercedes Benz EQS SUV

Price: from £129,470

You’ll need to spend close to £130,000 if you want this caravan-towing EV. That’s because it’s the Mercedes version of a jacked-up luxury limousine – the EQS SUV.

Packed with technology and pure luxury, it can tow up to 1,800kg.

Volvo C40 Recharge (Twin variant)

Price: from £59,750

Volvo’s latest all-electric compact SUV is the sleek C40 Recharge.

Only the two-motor variants – with a range of 440 miles – have the full 1,800kg load capacity, meaning prices start at just under £60,000.

Volvo XC40 Recharge (Twin variant)

Price: from £61,855

The more practical option for the C40 Recharge is Volvo’s XC40 Recharge. Again, you’ll need to move up to the twin-motor variants to get a maximum towing capacity of 1,800.

This means costs start from nearly £62,000.