EV with towing capability
Discussion
Nomme de Plum said:
Quite a few of our sailing club members have moved to EVs and tow dinghies sometimes on roof also. Mostly Teslas. They do regular regattas all over the UK so they must make the range and recharging work.
I guess putting it on the roof makes getting into a Supercharger easier than with a trailer. I've not seen a tow through charger in the UK, only the US.Tesla Model 3 Long Range can be had with a factory towbar.
1000kg rating with 55kg nose weight.
Only issue with Tesla is you can't retro-fit a towbar. If it didn't have one from the factory then the VIN isn't stamped with a train weight, so it's illegal to fit a towbar.
I have a 2019 model and mine had one, but it was a waiting game for one to come up with a factory bar, and when it did it was the wrong colour (white) and wrong wheels (aero), but i still went for it.
I'll be on the look out for a 2021+ model with a towbar next year or maybe not long after, but they're even rarer!
1000kg rating with 55kg nose weight.
Only issue with Tesla is you can't retro-fit a towbar. If it didn't have one from the factory then the VIN isn't stamped with a train weight, so it's illegal to fit a towbar.
I have a 2019 model and mine had one, but it was a waiting game for one to come up with a factory bar, and when it did it was the wrong colour (white) and wrong wheels (aero), but i still went for it.
I'll be on the look out for a 2021+ model with a towbar next year or maybe not long after, but they're even rarer!
LowTread said:
....
Only issue with Tesla is you can't retro-fit a towbar. If it didn't have one from the factory then the VIN isn't stamped with a train weight, so it's illegal to fit a towbar.
.....!
This is true of may EVs it seems.Only issue with Tesla is you can't retro-fit a towbar. If it didn't have one from the factory then the VIN isn't stamped with a train weight, so it's illegal to fit a towbar.
.....!
A lot of people will tell you 'the xyz will tow blah..', based on what's been written about models sold in other countries.
A car which leaves the factory with a towbar may have slightly different software in it.
It would be prudent to check the plate with hybrids or mild hybrids too?
Come to that, probably true for IC cars if you are towing anything heavy.
Personally I only need to tow a light trailer, probably less than 250kg loaded. But it would be unbraked.
Yes i did lots of research into hybrids and plug in hybrids when looking for my last couple of cars.
Key for me was bike rack, so even 300kg would do.
e.g.
Golf GTE can tow. This was top of the list for a while.
Ioniq Hybrid from 2019 (ish) can tow. Pre 2019 can't. Same for the PHEV
Kona EV from 2021 (facelift) can tow. Pre 2021 can't.
Niro EV can't tow. Latest model can
Tesla Model 3 Long Range can if factory towbar fitted. Performance model can't have a towbar.
Key for me was bike rack, so even 300kg would do.
e.g.
Golf GTE can tow. This was top of the list for a while.
Ioniq Hybrid from 2019 (ish) can tow. Pre 2019 can't. Same for the PHEV
Kona EV from 2021 (facelift) can tow. Pre 2021 can't.
Niro EV can't tow. Latest model can
Tesla Model 3 Long Range can if factory towbar fitted. Performance model can't have a towbar.
Volvo XC40 1800kg twin motor / 1500kg single motor.
https://www.volvocars.com/uk/support/car/xc40-rech...
https://www.volvocars.com/uk/support/car/xc40-rech...
I was at a regatta at the weekend and there were quite a few teslas .
I have been looking at this a bit myself, volvo XC40 can be specced with towbar from the factory. Also hyundai kona can be ordered with one, but its a dealer fit option
vw ID 4 can be a factory spec, I'd fancy an ID buzz as a great car for travelling to regattas, "sleeping in the van" but cant order one on our work salary sacrifice deal at the moment
I have been looking at this a bit myself, volvo XC40 can be specced with towbar from the factory. Also hyundai kona can be ordered with one, but its a dealer fit option
vw ID 4 can be a factory spec, I'd fancy an ID buzz as a great car for travelling to regattas, "sleeping in the van" but cant order one on our work salary sacrifice deal at the moment
Edited by sawman on Thursday 2nd May 20:30
I've towed my boat with my EV, it's probably about 1250KG's with trailer. It tows it like it's not there until you look at the energy consumption and it's almost double. If it's for shortish distances it's not a problem at all. When I collected it and drove it 250miles home I did take the diesel though!
I've had several EV's, but not to tow. But I also tow trailers quite often in work vans and pickups and I always imagine that an EV would be just about the perfect tow vehicle, they're heavy, planted and have immense roll off torque and traction. Also in ICE, going from second to third with a heavy tow up any sort of hill always feels like the clutch doesn't love it..
Obviously the range hit is a thing but... given the number of boats in the UK and the scarcity of seeing them on the major roads, I'm guessing the vast majority that are towed, aren't towed several hundred miles very often if ever? I figure that if I had to tow a boat 200 miles once a year, I'd just un-hitch it to charge if I had too. Annoying but clearly that isn't a regular trip so easy to ignore the once in a blue moon hassle?
Obviously the range hit is a thing but... given the number of boats in the UK and the scarcity of seeing them on the major roads, I'm guessing the vast majority that are towed, aren't towed several hundred miles very often if ever? I figure that if I had to tow a boat 200 miles once a year, I'd just un-hitch it to charge if I had too. Annoying but clearly that isn't a regular trip so easy to ignore the once in a blue moon hassle?
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