Towing with an electric car
I’m after buying a new tow car to replace my 6 yr old Volvo XC60 diesel. Nowadays it seems I have to buy a hybrid or all electric to tow my 3 yr old Bailey Phoenix.
Does anyone out there have any advice on my choices. I’m am after an Audi, so in comparison with my XC60, the Q5 seems a good match. Are these cars capable of doing the long mileage for a caravan holiday of say 350 miles and how long will I have to wait while I charge it up. Also how can I charge the new car when I don’t have a drive. Any help in these delicate matters would be much appreciated
Comments
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Check out this thread for a comprehensive report:
There are also other threads in this towcar section.
I have an EV - not a tow car - and there is no way I would contemplate either a full EV or a PHEV if I could not plug it in at home.
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The thread that TW pointed to would be a good start for first hand information from a forum member. You could also look up the videos by Andrew Ditton on YouTube who has recently purchase an EV with the intention of towing a caravan.
David
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Hi BlueBull,
Whilst I am a huge advocate of EVs, love mine, and tow with it (as you will find if you read the thread attached above), unless you have the option of home charging, I would not opt for an EV (or indeed PHEV). Note that you don't HAVE to have a drive to home charge, but you do need to be able to park close to your home and run a cable to your car, which may also not be possible.
Even if you can - if you are buying a car specifically as a tow car, and intend to use it for continental touring, or any touring where you cover more than a few hundred miles a day, I would think hard and twice before getting an EV. Can it be done? Yes. Are they good tow cars? Yes. Is towing a long distance with one as simple as with an ICE car today? No. You need to want to have one for that purpose.
Happy to answer questions on my experience to date.
For the record - I tow around 1000 miles a year with my Polestar 2, but drive a further 11,000miles or so solo. I have off road parking at home, a home charger and mine is a company car. I also have a 2nd EV (Fiat 500EC) which is personally owned.
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Many thanks for replies, but wifey has decided to buy a new XC 40, and I’m having the XC 60 for towing
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I've just had a quick look at the Bailey website and it says "Max MPTLM of 1,436kg (single axle) and 1,636kg (twin axle)"
At these figures would the XC40 not be a realistic tow car?
The B3 specification is 163bhp, 265N/m torque, 1,600kg tow limit.
The B4 specification is 197bhp, 300N/m torque, 2,000kg tow limit.
Colin
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I think there is little that you can do sensibly than go for a hybrid if you want some electric use. If you do not have a drive at home and millions do not, charging problems are more about cost than anything else.
Basically you pay 20% vat when you charge the car anywhere except on your drive, this means that normally you are being punished financially as filling an ICU car is normally cheaper. The cars generally cost more and you still pay the same new car taxes at the same price as ICU cars and depreciation and insurance cost are worse. There are some savings on servicing though.
As far as getting somewhere to charge the car is concerned I am not sure that is a problem as with ICU models you still need a filling station, although for a shorter time. Possibly the local infrastructure might affect your opinion on that.
Electric cars should not suffer the 20% VAT rate on charging if the government want to get more electric cars on the road. This is possibly a major problem which needs addressing but I think the government feels it needs the income.
The second hand problem was brought home to me by my daughter. One of her neighbours bought an electric Porsche which he wanted to use for is business. He did find problems with driving longer distances and decided to trade it in for another, but more upmarket model. He was told they were not interested as they had more electric ones than they could sell and would not do a deal. I am not sure if things are that bad lower down the market, but it is worth checking out nearly new models if you go for full electric and see what you can do.
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