Update: Please check out my new website electrictowcars.co.uk
As a small site owner, I often have discussions with our guests about tow vehicles. As you can imagine, a discussion which I’m now having more frequently is around the pros and cons of towing with an electric vehicle. From time to time, we have a few hybrid tow cars which arrive, and even occasionally, some pure electric vehicles. Currently, those pure electric vehicles are second cars, but moving forward, we will start to see more electric tow cars and electric motorhomes.
As a family, we are already on the electric car bandwagon. We have a Nissan Leaf, which I regularly use.
However, its only a small electric car suitable for short journeys, and it can’t tow (legally). Therefore, we still have a diesel Nissan X-Trail for towing our caravan and trailers.
Until pure electric tow cars are viable for most people, I also have a post on what I think are the best cars for towing a caravan.
Most electric cars on the market today cannot tow a caravan, in fact, most can’t tow any trailer at all. But the range of electric cars on offer is expanding rapidly.
Within the next few years, there will be more (and more affordable) electric cars capable of towing a caravan.
So with this post, I thought I would discuss some of the benefits and drawbacks of electric tow cars. I will briefly touch on some electric tow cars you can purchase today and those which be available in the near future.
Finally, I will discuss a topic that I personally think about as a small caravan site owner, which is the practicality and impacts of charging an electric tow car on a caravan site.
Disclaimer: Hey! By the way… any links on this page that lead to products on Amazon or Caravan Guard are affiliate links, and I earn a commission if you make a purchase, with no additional cost to you 🙂
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Table of Contents
Hybrid Tow Cars For Caravans
There is a range of hybrid in both plugin and none plugin varieties available today which can tow a caravan. These are not pure electric vehicles as they still have an internal combustion engine.
However, some do allow you to drive around 25 miles on pure electric power alone. But note, that pure electric mileage is not while towing.
The general consensus currently appears to be whatever the pure electric range of a car is, it’s reduced by 50% while towing.
Lexus has been producing hybrid (non-plugin) tow vehicles for over a decade. However, in recent years the plugin hybrid car which has taken the attention when it comes to towing caravans is the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
Below are two videos about the Outlander PHEV, one from Mitsubishi and one from Practical Caravan.
Limitations of the Outlander PHEV
Now, as stated above, we as a family believe in the benefits of electric cars, and we are also looking to upgrade in the future to an electric tow car.
However, my personal opinion on the Outlander PHEV is that it does have notable limitations when it comes to towing a caravan.
Caravan Weight Limit
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has a trailer weight limit of 1,500kg. This is 500kg down from the 2,000 kg limit of the diesel Outlander.
When comparing the price of the PHEV for similar money a conventional petrol and diesel vehicle can be purchased which can tow 2,000kg, potentially even up to 2,500kg.
Therefore, when consumers are comparing the capabilities of the car in like for like comparisons, this will be a notable difference.
Caravan Nose Weight Limit
Another notable difference between the Outlander PHEV and similar vehicles in its class is its caravan nose weight limit.
The Outland PHEV has a towbar nose weight limit of 75kg. This is 25kg down on the 100kg limit you get with the diesel Outlander.
The reason for this is the additional weight over the rear axle on the car due to the battery and electric motor.
It can be very difficult indeed to get the weight of the caravan down low enough to meet a nose weight limit of 75kg on all but the smallest caravans.
These two reductions in towing capacity and nose weight limit are some of the primary limitations of PHEVs. They are adaptions of conventional internal combustion vehicles.
Therefore, they are not able to take advantage of the true benefits of cars designed from the ground up as pure electric vehicles. Which includes better weight distribution among other things.
Towing with a Pure Electric Tow Car
Now, if you want to quickly absorb some information about the practicalities and legal circumstances of towing with an electric car today I would encourage you to watch the quick video below from Transport Evolved.
While this video was actually made in 2017, many of the points raised are still applicable today.
Tongue Weights
In the UK when it comes to tow cars for caravans we refer to the weight placed on the cars tow hitch as the noseweight.
When researching this post to find the nose weight capacities of different vehicles I was finding it very hard to find this information.
The reason being a lot of the technical information on the cars towing capabilities comes from the US. Over in the US, they don’t refer to it as the nose weight, they refer to it as the ‘tongue weight’.
I just wanted to clear that up so you don’t run into the same issues yourself. As for some electric tow cars, trying to find UK specific information on towing is very difficult.
Electric Tow Cars Range and Charging Rates
As I reference near the start of this post, the general consensus appears to be with an electric tow car whatever an electric cars ‘real world’ range is when it comes to towing you’ll achieve about 50% of that range.
Now, that’s a very broad generalisation. It obviously depends on the efficiency of the individual electric car, how heavy the trailer/caravan is, how aerodynamic it is etc etc. But for the moment let’s go along with the 50% rule.
Obviously, the range of the electric tow car is important but equally important is the rate of charge. Let’s say you are towing on the motorway/highway and you stop for a break and to charge up.
As your range, while towing is cut in half you want to be able to get as much power as you can back into your electric tow car as quickly as possible.
Therefore, besides just focusing on the range of the car you should also be paying close attention to the rate of charge while fast charging/supercharging.
The video below is by Bjørn Nyland who makes some of the most detailed videos currently available on what electric cars are truly capable of and their limitations.
In this particular video, he shows how fast four popular premium electric cars can charge from 10% to 80%. That includes the Audi e-Tron, Mercedes EQC, Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla Model X. All of these electric cars can tow (with varying capacities).
So as you can see the Audi e-Tron wins the charging race hands down. However, it is also the most ‘electron hungry’ of the four cars.
Therefore you do have to factor that in before determining the e-Tron would be the best electric tow car of the four.
You also have to bear in mind as of now its only really the Tesla which has wide availability for fast charging over 100kW. Most fast chargers here in the UK are still 50kW, but the networks are slowly being upgraded.
Pure Electric Tow Cars
So this page is as much about my own interest in keeping up with the latest electric cars which can potentially tow a caravan as it is an informational resource.
Therefore I hope to keep updating this page over time, adding new electric tow cars and detailing their capabilities when it comes to towing a caravan.
The concept of towing with an electric car is still very ‘niche’ but there are a few people already trying it out:
Stumbled on this trio towing in Geiranger, MX, E Tron and EQC. from r/teslamotors
Tesla Model X (Available Now) – 2,250KG Towing Capacity
As stated at the start of this post, I along with other members of my family are fans of electric cars, and I did actually watch the Model X reveal online many years ago.
I specifically remember the large Airstream caravan which the Model X towed onto the stage.
That was the first time I had seen a pure electric tow car, never mind one that could actually pull such a heavy caravan.
However, today the only video I can seem to find on the Tesla YouTube channel about towing with the Model X isn’t exactly demonstrating the full capabilities of this car.
Tesla Model X Towing Specifications
- Battery Size: 100kW (95kW usable)
- Real World Range: 275 Miles (not towing)
- Efficiency: 345wh/m
- Towing Range: Typically between 100-150 Miles
- Maxing Towing Capacity: 2250kg
- Max Nose Weight: Over 200kg
- All Wheel Drive
- Power: 417HP, Torque: 487lb-ft
- Kerb Weight: 2,459 to 2,487 kg
- L: 5,052 mm, W: 1,999 mm, H: 1,684 mm
- Data Source: EV-Database
Tesla Model X Reviews
I’m not a car reviewer, and I’ve only been a Tesla Model S before never an X. Therefore if you want to learn more about the ins and outs of the Tesla Model X I’ve provided some links below.
- Auto Express Tesla Model X Review
- What Car Tesla Model X Review
- Autocar Tesla Model X Review
- TopGear Tesla Model X Review
However, few of them if any actually reference the towing capabilities of the Model X. Therefore I would recommend watching the video below from Bjørn Nyland who provides some excellent stats on the range while towing a caravan with a Tesla Model X.
As Bjørn discusses in the video, when it comes to towing with electric vehicles, the aerodynamics of the caravan is the key consideration, more so than weight.
Furthermore, while the Tesla supercharger network is expansive, even around the UK it’s still a good idea to have charge adapters so you can charge at any type of public supercharger.
Tesla Model X Towing Pros and Cons
- + Currently the most advanced user interface/navigation
- + Significant range even while towing
- + High towing capacity and nose weight limit
- + Tesla Supercharger Network
- – Very expensive
- – Rear passenger door practicality and reliability
Tesla Model 3 (Available Now) – 910KG Towing Capacity
I must admit I do like the Tesla Model 3, and one day I would like to get one. However, I never thought of Tesla Model 3 as a tow car.
While yes the Tesla Model X as referenced above can tow a 2250kg trailer/caravan, the Tesla Model S (which is bigger than the Model 3) has no towing capacity at all.
Therefore, it was surprising to learn the Model 3 had any towing capacity. Now granted its not a lot at only 910kg compared to the Model X, but its something.
At least it means that Tesla is recognising that consumers do want (and need) smaller more affordable electric cars that can tow.
If you want to see how the Tesla Model 3 performs while towing Bjørn Nyland (the same guy who did the Model X towing test above) has also tested towing with a Model 3 with some interesting results:
Tesla Model 3 Tonge/Noseweight?
What is rather odd, no matter where I look on the Tesla website or other media outlets I cannot find what the noseweight (tongue weight) of the Tesla Model 3 actually is?
Its obviously not going to be as the crazy figure of 200kg as it is for the Model X, but it would still be excellent to just have half of that. When I finally do find out I’ll update this section of the post.
Tesla Model 3 Tow Hitch Cost
On the Tesla website, the Tesla Model 3 tow hitch has a price of £910. Interestingly, currently this Tesla Model 3 tow hitch option is only available in Europe and the UK.
Not sure why that’s the case, but hey, we normally get things after the US and not before. What is worth noting is that the Tesla website states:
“Tow hitch cannot be installed after delivery” Tesla.com
Again, I’m not sure why that’s the case, but if you were interested in buying a Tesla Model 3 from new and you want to keep the warranty on the car, better tick that tow hitch option.
As with the Jaguar I Pace below, the Tesla Model 3’s towing capacity is going to struggle with even the lightest caravan. However, there are small camping trailers that you could potentially tow with the Tesla Model 3.
Tesla Model 3 Towing Specifications
- Battery Size: 75kW (74kW usable)
- Real World Range: 295 Miles (not towing)
- Efficiency: 250wh/m
- Towing Range: Typically between 100-150 Miles
- Maxing Towing Capacity: 910kg
- Max Nose Weight: Unknown
- All Wheel Drive
- Power: 346HP, Torque: 389lb-ft
- Kerb Weight: 1,847 kg
- L: 4,694 mm, W: 1,850 mm, H: 1,443 mm
- Data Source: EV-Database
Tesla Model Y (Available Now) – 1,600KG Towing Capacity
The Model Y will be Tesla’s compact SUV’. Based on the Model 3 but it will be larger and can seat 7. Now, Tesla state it can seat 7 but its not as big as the Model X.
So I would describe the Tesla Model X as being able to seat 7 adults and the Model Y as being able to seat 5 adults and 2 kids.
Tesla Cybertruck (Available 2022) – Up to 6,350kg Towing Capacity (Not a Typo)
In November 2019 Tesla revealed to the world the Cybertruck. To say the design and appearance of this vehicle are divisive would be a massive understatement.
People either love it or they really, really hate it. Now, I’m a child of the 1980s. Two of my favourite films are Back to the Future and Blade Runner, hence I love it.
However, I completely understand why my perspective is not universally shared. However, let’s put the looks of this electric tow vehicle to one side (if you can).
In terms of capabilities, when this electric tow car (truck) hits the market in 2022 it will easily be the most capable electric towing vehicle on the market.
Furthermore, its going to be priced extremely competitively.
Those Looks Are Actually Functional
If someone was to be very dismissive of the design they would state Tesla has just designed the Cybertruck to look that way to grab media attention.
While its true that Tesla never pays for advertising, hence they rely on conventional media and social media to promote their products, there is more to it than that.
The way the Tesla Cybertruck looks is partly to do with function. The Cybertruck has no sub-chassis which provides all the strength for the vehicle as is the case with a traditional truck.
The strength of the Cybertruck is its cold-rolled stainless steel unibody. Therefore, for the vehicle to have such a high payload and towing capacity it has to have a ‘sail pillar’.
The sail pillar is essentially a support between the top of the cab to the back of the bed on the truck. Hence on the Cybertruck that large triangular section of solid stainless steel on the rear.
Therefore, it appears the need for a sail pillar to give the unibody design its strength influenced the whole design of the Cybertruck.
Hence, ‘let’s just make it all out of straight lines and triangles!‘ If you want to read more about the requirement for the sail pillar you can read more about it here.
Would the Tesla Cybertruck Work on UK Roads?
Ok, let’s presume for a second you are ok with the looks of the Cybertruck and you were impressed with the towing performance and price.
This thing would tow any caravan currently on sale in the UK without breaking a sweat. However, it is primarily designed for the US market, with comparable dimensions to the most popular selling truck in the US the Ford F-150.
Now here in the UK while I have noticed more of our guests choosing to use a pick-up to tow a caravan, UK spec pick-ups are typically shorter than a Ford F-150 hence shorter than the Cybertruck.
Hence, your total outfit length of car/caravan will be longer, making turning more difficult.
Furthermore, just parking the Cybertruck on its own is going to be more of a challenge with our narrow/short UK parking spaces.
Then again, if you watch the video above. If the person in the car next to you opens their door into the Cybertruck, its going to end up worse for them.
Jaguar I Pace (Available Now) – 750kg Towing Capacity
I wanted to reference the Jaguar I Pace because it’s a very popular electric vehicle and it surely has the impression it has the capabilities to tow a caravan.
However, sadly this is not the case. As reported by insideevs, Jaguar CEO Ian Callum has stated towing “depletes ranges too much“.
However, some media outlets (WhatCar) are stating the Jaguar I Pace can tow, with a capacity of 750kg. So there does appear to be confusion about whether the I Pace has a towing capacity.
UPDATE O9/19: Well, apparently, as you can see from the content below the Jaguar CEO must have changed his mind about towing because the I Pace has now even won a towing award! Albeit for very small trailers/caravans up to 750kg.
Caravan and Motorhome Club Tow Car Awards
Audi e-tron 55 Quattro – 1,800kg Towing Capacity
The e-tron is Audi’s first attempt at a pure electric car designed to be electric from the start. It’s a large SUV style electric car with a kerb weight of 2,490kg.
As referenced previously, while the heavyweight of electric cars isn’t brilliant for efficiency and range it does help with towing stability.
Even before the car was launched and it was still under its camo disguise, Audi were demonstrating the towing capabilities of the car.
With a large 95kW battery the e-tron has an estimated real-world range of 250 miles. Now, to be honest, that range isn’t brilliant for a massive 95kW battery.
Its less than the Tesla Model X at 275 miles. Furthermore, several media outlets have suggested even 250 miles in the e-tron is optimistic and it drinks electrons.
Part of the reason for this as can be seen in the towing statistics below is while the e-tron may have a 95kW battery, only 83.6kW is useable.
Electric cars hold an unusable reserve to maintain battery stability and health under a depleted condition. However, the e-tron does have a larger reserve than other manufacturers and is effectively carrying a lot of weight in the battery that it cannot use.
As we know from the towing tests conducted above on the Model X, towing range is about half that of the cars normal range.
Therefore, with the Audi e-tron a realistic towing range could be closer to 100 miles with a large trailer or caravan at its 1,800 kg limit.
However, the Audi e-tron can charge at 155kW. Therefore, when UK motorway service stations are updated with 155kW CCS fast charging this will potentially make the e-tron still viable as an electric tow car.
Unfortunately, again as with several other electric tow cars I’m currently unable to find what the tongue/nose weight restrictions are for the Audi e-tron. I do find it bizarre how this vital piece of towing information is not stated alongside the maxium braked trailer weight.
Audi e-tron 55 Quattro Towing Specifications
- Battery Size: 95kW (83.6kW usable)
- Real World Range: 250 Miles (not towing)
- Efficiency: 370wh/m
- Towing Range: Typically between 100-120 Miles
- Maxing Towing Capacity: 1,800kg
- Max Nose Weight: Unknown
- All Wheel Drive
- Power: 402HP, Torque: 490lb-ft
- Kerb Weight: 2,490 kg
- L: 4,901 mm, W: 1,935 mm, H: 1,616 mm
- Data Source: EV-Database
Mercedes-Benz EQC – 1,800kg Towing Capacity
The EQC is Mercedes first ‘proper’ attempt at an electric car. In 2014 they did actually release an electric version of the B-Class.
But that car didn’t get a great reception due it is ‘ok’ range and lack of fast charging. So you never seem to hear Mercedes mention the electric B-Class as their first attempt, its all about the EQC!
Now, this is a full-on electric car, able to compete with the likes of the Tesla Model X and Audi e-Tron. However, like the e-Tron the chassis foundation is an internal combustion engine car (Mercedes GLC).
Therefore, there are some compromises when it comes to the best packaging/use of space. You will find not a ‘frunk’ on this car, just a large plastic cover. But as a tow car, the Mercedes EQC is pretty capable.
Mercedes-Benz EQC – Towing Specifications
- Battery Size: 55kW (80kW usable)
- Real World Range: 225 Miles (not towing)
- Efficiency: 355wh/m
- Towing Range: Typically between 100-120 Miles
- Maxing Towing Capacity: 1,800kg
- Max Nose Weight: Unknown
- All Wheel Drive
- Power: 402HP, Torque: 561lb-ft
- Kerb Weight: 2,495 kg
- L: 4,761 mm, W: 1,884 mm, H: 1,623 mm
- Data Source: EV-Database
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