Towing an EV

fatbelly
fatbelly Forum Participant Posts: 438
100 Comments
edited January 2021 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi All,

We have a Bailey Motorhome & we're thinking of buying an Electric Car to tow behind our Van. Has anyone any experience of towing an EV? A friend told me that EV's cannot freewheel because it damages the electric motor. Not heard of this and I'll ask the dealer before we buy, but I'd prefer to get an unbiased opinion from you guys.

Thanks 

Comments

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2021 #2

    Don't most EV's regenerate the batteries when they're freewheeling? I think they need to be carried on a trailer but do some internet research, FB.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,383 ✭
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    edited January 2021 #3

    All the enquiries I have made come to the same answer as you have had. You cannot tow an electrical powered vehicle. The reasons I have been given include damage to the motor but also because many employ regenerative power of batteries which will result in serious damage to them.

    peedee

    P.S. Tow bars 2 Tow have been talking to manufactures about getting around this problem with somekind of overide for when towing. Don't think they have got anywhere with it but it may be worth having a chat with them to see what they say. It is also of concern in the breakdown industry.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2021 #4

    Kia advise a flat bed truck or dolly for their FWD EVs if in a breakdown situation

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited January 2021 #5

    There is no clutch on an EV so you can’t freewheel hence EVs require flatbed transportation and can’t be towed.

  • fatbelly
    fatbelly Forum Participant Posts: 438
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    edited January 2021 #6

    Thanks Guys.

    Good info, we will get a car to tow but we'll get a all petrol engine.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited January 2021 #7

    Could you tow a hybrid or are they the same as full EV's. 

  • DavidOldmoley
    DavidOldmoley Forum Participant Posts: 43
    edited January 2021 #8

    Hybrids have automatic transmission so may be towable in neutral.

    Worth checking with manufacturer in case there  are issues.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2021 #9

    The manufacturer will probably say that as they're automatic, you can't tow it. That's what Mercedes say about automatic Smarts. Smarts have an automated manual gearbox & there a many many Smarts towed behind motorhomes without problem.

  • Gordon Craig Powell
    Gordon Craig Powell Forum Participant Posts: 54
    edited July 2021 #10

    If you went down the EV route but on a trailer, does anyone know if its technically possible to charge whilst towing using motorhome alternator output and what would be needed to charge the car? 

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,383 ✭
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    edited July 2021 #11

    I would think it is a tall order to expect the motorhome alternator to put much in the way of charge into an EV battery even if you devised a way of connecting it to the car.

    peedee

     
  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited July 2021 #12

    Smarts being towed? all those I have seen on club site have been on trailers, or one was in the boot of the motor caravansurprised

  • ChocolateTrees
    ChocolateTrees Forum Participant Posts: 432
    edited August 2021 #13

    Some EVs can be towed, mine can, but its really just for getting onto a recovery truck. It has a special tow mode just for the purpose. 

    Using a Motorhome to charge an EV while towing would be incredibly expensive (even if it were possible). The lowest charge rate an EV can typically use is 6A mains AC (1.38Kw). You would need an inverter that could support that, pure sine wave at 1.4Kw AC = 116A DC  without conversion losses. You are realistically looking at a drain of something like 3 to 5 HP (PS) at the alternator to allow for losses. 

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