It’s hard to believe that just a few short years ago you’d struggle to spot an electric vehicle on Australian roads!
This statement by then-PM Scott Morrison in 2019 shows how far EV’s have come:
“[An electric vehicle] won’t tow your trailer. It’s not going to tow your boat. It’s not going to get you out to your favourite camping spot with your family”.
We won’t hold that one against you Scotty! Today, EV’s are everywhere, and yes, they can tow your boat, they can tow your trailer and they can get to your favourite camping spots.
In fact, many of our clients who come into Speedy Towbars prefer them to standard Internal combustion Engines (ICE) – let’s dive into why that’s the case and some of the things you need to think about when towing with your electric vehicle.
Advantages of Towing with an EV
If you’ve driven an EV you’ll be familiar with the instant power when you put your foot down. There’s a whole heap of torque on tap there, and compared to an ICE there’s very little lag in achieving maximum pulling power.
The faster acceleration from standing still equates to better towing performance. You’ll especially notice this when going up hills or navigating stop-start traffic. Whereas a petrol or diesel engine will take time to build up power and gather momentum when towing a load, you’re faster out of the blocks with an EV.
Limitations of EV Towing
Towing a trailer or caravan is always going to place additional requirements on your vehicle, no matter what type it is. How does an EV hold up to these requirements? The most obvious is in the range:
Effects of Towing on EV Range
Just as a petrol or diesel vehicle uses more fuel when towing, your electric vehicle range will be impacted too. According to the Electric Vehicle Council of Australia, the average modern EV has a range of around 400 kilometres. The technology is advancing so rapidly, some models can hit 600 kilometres and we should be seeing that become more of a standard too.
The extra weight from towing will cause your EV to use more battery power, so these figures will reduce. How much depends on factors like the weight of the trailer, the terrain, your driving habits and the payload of the vehicle. As a rule of thumb, if you’re towing a load close to the maximum tow rating of the car then cut your normal range in half. You will likely get more out of it, but that will give you a bit of leeway to get where you’re going.
If you’re towing over a long distance with your EV, planning becomes essential. Map out where you’ll need to charge up and make sure the infrastructure is there to do so!
Charging with a Trailer Attached
The majority of EV charging stations in Australia aren’t designed to accommodate a car with a trailer. Accessing the charger can be tricky, and often means unhitching the trailer, parking it and then charging up.
What starts to add up here is time. You’ll want to be getting a full charge in because of your load you’re dragging, so when you’re towing on a long journey charging will take up more time. Plan your trips accordingly and you’ll be good to go!
Are All Electric Vehicles Rated for Towing?
If you’re in the market for an EV or you’ve already taken the leap, you need to check its towing capacity before you install a towbar. Some EV models aren’t rated for towing at all, particularly smaller urban runarounds, for example the BYD Dolphin.
The owner manual of your car should tell you if it’s rated and what the towing capacity is. Here’s the maximum braked towing capacity of a few of the more popular PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) and BEV (battery electric vehicle) models:
BYD Shark 6 (PHEV): 2500kg towing capacity
BYD Sealion 6 (PHEV): 1600kg
Tesla Model Y (BEV): 1600kg
Kia EV9 (BEV): 2500kg (This matches the BMW IX for the highest tow capacity in a BEV)
Hyundai Kona EV (BEV): 750kg
Trust Speedy Towbars with Your EV Towbar!
At Speedy Towbars, we’re installing towbars on electric vehicles every day. We’ve got fully trained HEV101-certified technicians who will get you set up for safe, secure and seamless towing with your EV.
Compatibility is important – you want to choose the right towbar for your car, and our team will find the perfect fit for you. Whether you’re hauling a caravan, boat or trailer, you can hit the road with confidence knowing you are backed by Speedy Towbars’ lifetime warranty and unparalleled after sales service.
Contact Speedy Towbars today and let’s get your EV ready for adventure.
Jordan is the co-owner of Speedy Towbars and a trusted source of towbar knowledge for Queensland drivers. When he's not installing towbars, he treasures time with his family and hitting the road for caravanning adventures!