Towing trailers with electric cars

[wombat88]

Has anyone any experience of what towing does to the range of electric cars? This on the assumption that one can fit tow bars to them?

(I'm thinking about trailers with heavyish dinghies)

 

[Easticks28]

The onlt test I know of is that carried out by the Caravan Club on the Jaguar ePace. Range was more than halved towing only 750kg. All electric cars, if manufacturers allow towing have seriously reduced towing weight limits compared with their conventional equivalent.
Jaguar Tow Cars

 

[steve6367]

Very few can - Jag above, Some Tesla and the Nissan ENV200. I am a big electric care advocate but they are not really ready for towing as yet.

Steve

 

[andsarkit]

The MG ZS can take a towbar as it is the same bodyshell for the IC versions. Fairly limited 500Kg towing capacity but should be OK for a small dinghy. This might also apply to other electric vehicles that share a body with a petrol or diesel version.

 

[Easticks28]

The MG ZS can take a towbar as it is the same bodyshell for the IC versions. Fairly limited 500Kg towing capacity but should be OK for a small dinghy. This might also apply to other electric vehicles that share a body with a petrol or diesel version.

It's important to consider the location of batteries in electric versions. They may obstruct fitting points for IC version tow bars.
Seek advice !

 

[CLB]

The problem will be that the big thirsty polar bear-killing cars will be the first to be outlawed, so what do you do if you need to tow 3.5 tons across the country?

 

[TernVI]

The problem will be that the big thirsty polar bear-killing cars will be the first to be outlawed, so what do you do if you need to tow 3.5 tons across the country?

The 'need' to tow heavy things only exists because it's allowed.

 

[CLB]

The 'need' to tow heavy things only exists because it's allowed.

Interesting. There is also a 'need' as in getting things from A to B.
I wonder what the caravan club would make of outlawing towing by stealth?

 

[RupertW]

Interesting. There is also a 'need' as in getting things from A to B.
I wonder what the caravan club would make of outlawing towing by stealth?

Caravans could become illegal?? Drivers across the land will be furious.

 

[CLB]

Caravans could become illegal?? Drivers across the land will be furious.

To be fair, only those that own caravans would be furious. The rest will be relieved

 

[RupertW]

To be fair, only those that own caravans would be furious. The rest will be relieved

And while we are about it those pesky vegetarian cyclists emit a lot CO2 and methane so they are for the chop too.

 

[Easticks28]

To be fair, only those that own caravans would be furious. The rest will be relieved

The Caravan Club had over 1 Million members in 2019 . Doubtles that figure has risen with 'staycation. The Camping and caravan club has in excess of 700K members. Quite a few...

 

[Plum]

The MG ZS can take a towbar as it is the same bodyshell for the IC versions. Fairly limited 500Kg towing capacity but should be OK for a small dinghy. This might also apply to other electric vehicles that share a body with a petrol or diesel version.

I thinkyou will find that the MG ZS EV is not Type Approved for towing.

 

[CLB]

And while we are about it those pesky vegetarian cyclists emit a lot CO2 and methane so they are for the chop too.

Perhaps we should measure their output and tax them accordingly in the same way that vehicles are taxed on their CO2 output.

Lets give this a go:

A person exercising exhales up to 100 litres per minute, of which 4% is CO2. So 4 litres of CO2 per minute. A hour on a bike will see up to 240 litres of CO2 released. This equals 475 grams. The average speed of a bicycle is 15mph or 24kph. This all equates to around 20g/km. Under current rules that gives them a £0 per year road tax, but that could and almost certainly will change as we head more towards zero emission vehicles, so we had better licence them in readiness.

 

[RupertW]

Perhaps we should measure their output and tax them accordingly in the same way that vehicles are taxed on their CO2 output.

Lets give this a go:

A person exercising exhales up to 100 litres per minute, of which 4% is CO2. So 4 litres of CO2 per minute. A hour on a bike will see up to 240 litres of CO2 released. This equals 475 grams. The average speed of a bicycle is 15mph or 24kph. This all equates to around 20g/km. Under current rules that gives them a £0 per year road tax, but that could and almost certainly will change as we head more towards zero emission vehicles, so we had better licence them in readiness.

You have left out the methane which brings them up towards the levels of a heavily loaded white van.

 

[Seashoreman]

Thankfully this wont be an issue overnight? I personally deliver pianos with a Tow- A - Van. If I didn't I would need to buy an second vehicle
(van) which is more polluting and expensive.
Inability to tow horses around the country would upset the race industry and the hunters and the pony club and that wouldn't do at all?

 

[pvb]

Tesla Model X can tow 2250kg.

 

[andsarkit]

I thinkyou will find that the MG ZS EV is not Type Approved for towing.

I believe you are right about this. I wonder if it is just a matter of getting the documentation done or is there a physical reason to do with regenerative braking that makes it difficult.
My brother was going to fit one to his MG ZS EV anyway for occasional trips to the tip with a trailor. It depends a little on your attitude keeping strictly to the rules.

 

[CLB]

Tesla Model X can tow 2250kg.

That's a start. But where does Mr and Mrs average with a caravan find the £80k+ to buy one?

There is a huge array of dinosaur juice powered vehicles than can tow this and more for as little as £1k

 

[halcyon]

Thankfully this wont be an issue overnight? I personally deliver pianos with a Tow- A - Van. If I didn't I would need to buy an second vehicle
(van) which is more polluting and expensive.
Inability to tow horses around the country would upset the race industry and the hunters and the pony club and that wouldn't do at all?

Fit trailers with wheel motors and regen braking, trailer draws power from vehicle battery, speed and braking in sync with tow vehicle, for long distance use the railway as per Euro tunnel.

What's the problem

Brian