Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more commonplace on our roads. We're starting to see them more regularly, zipping in and out of traffic but going largely unnoticed. Their silent operation, cost-efficient operation and silky-smooth drive are making them increasingly popular. The EV is not without its limitations though; its ability to tow is still lacking compared to traditional petrol and diesel alternatives.
Related: How To - Tow a car
Many of the early EVs could not tow, and the owner's manual would warn against it. Understanding that towing is a part of vehicle ownership, manufacturers have worked hard to design EVs that are able to tow. This begs the question; can an electric car tow another vehicle?
Towing with an EV
As with any towing exercise, one first has to acknowledge that there are limitations to what can and can't be towed, even if they are on wheels. Not only will your driver's license stipulate what weight you are legally allowed to tow, but your towing vehicle has its limitations too.
Smaller EVs are still not rated to tow and you will not be able to tow with the smallest and most affordable EV on sale in South Africa today; the MINI SE. The Volvo XC40, Mercedes-Benz EQA and BMW iX3 are rated to tow, but only up to a weight of 750 kg, either braked or unbraked.
You would need to step up to an Audi e-tron 55 before you're able to tow anything heavier but you are still limited to 750 kg unbaked and 1800 kg braked.
Most trailers will only be a few hundred kilograms and will be able to be towed by many of the popular EVs but when you start thinking about caravans and boats, you will need to shop carefully. A small caravan will weigh anything from 800 kg to 1 300 kg and larger ones can weigh as much as 2 000 kg.
Can you tow a car?
Considering that most cars will weigh over 1 000 kg, it's not possible to tow them with many of the smaller EVs. You will need to ensure that the EV you are wanting to tow with is rated for weights over 1 300 kg to be on the safe side. As the towed vehicle should be manned and the operator of the towed vehicle will be applying the brakes when coming to a stop, you will need to ensure that the towing EV is rather for braked towing in excess of 1 300 kg.
