Why Are Electric Cars Not Ideal For Towing

 

Are you planning to replace your car with an electric or hybrid one? An increasing number 

of motorists are these days considering either a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric model 

for their next car, replacing diesel or gasoline. While this can be a huge help in cutting 

pollution and ensuring you have an affordable car to run, what if you often tow a caravan, 

horsebox, or heavy trailer?

But while many see electric cars as the future of transportation, there are still some 

obstacles and question marks about whether they’re actually practical for ordinary 

drivers, particularly if you’re a family looking to tow a trailer or caravan for a holiday.

While it’s technically possible to tow using an electric car, there are a lot of gray areas 

you should be aware of before hitching up a trailer or caravan.

Can Electric Cars Be Used to Tow?

There are several reasons why electric cars aren't approved to tow. There are some very 

good reasons for this. We will discuss them one by one.

• Weight - The first is to do with the weight of an electric car. They already weigh
  more than equivalent gasoline or diesel-powered cars because of their heavy
  batteries. Added weight from the caravan or trailer would affect things like the
  brakes – they wouldn’t be as effective and might struggle to cope with the even
  heavier load.

• Range - Most often, towing can take long trips, which can be difficult in an
  electric car. Not only would drivers have to recharge regularly, but they'd also
  face significantly shorter real-world range than the car's published figure due
  to the added weight of the other vehicle. The extra weight could also strain
  the electric motors.

• Regenerative Braking Systems -  There is the issue of regenerative braking
  systems that slow electric cars quickly to recapture kinetic energy as electricity
  and charge the battery. The more extreme settings of these systems might
  cause the towed vehicle to behave in an unexpected way when the car slows
  as a result of the driver lifting off the throttle.

Towing Capacity in Electric Cars

Electric car towing can be a confusing topic. Motorists have been told time and 

time again that one of the great things about electric cars (also called as EVs) is 

that all of the power from their electric motors is available instantly. This differs 

from gasoline and diesel cars, where you need to get the engine spinning 

relatively fast to produce maximum power.

Smaller EVs and hybrids don’t offer a towing capacity, but several other 

electrified vehicles on the market can reliably carry a load. Towing something 

requires a lot of energy and using more energy in an electric car means you 

reduce the distance you can travel per charge - something that is already a 

concern for many potential electric car drivers, even those who don't even 

plan to tow.

With this being said, you can just count on reliable towing services in Cape 

Coral. There are plenty of car towing services, but the most reliable one is 

 Cape Coral Towing and Recovery, Inc. 

Call a towing service as soon as you need help. Wherever in Southwest 

Florida, we will come to you and respond to your towing needs! Contact 

Cape Coral Towing and Recovery, Inc. at 239-458-3333 / 239-656-4030 as 

your towing contractor in Florida!