Are Electric Cars Capable of Towing?

There are many reasons why most electric cars aren’t yet capable of towing trailers, caravans, and other loads behind them. 

The first to mention is that many have simply not been approved to tow. This is down to a process called ‘type approval’. According to the UK government’s website:  

“Vehicle Type Approval is the confirmation that production samples of a type of vehicle, vehicle system, component or separate technical unit will meet specified performance standards.” 

When a car manufacturer such as Peugeot produces and releases a new vehicle, we must submit it to various automotive bodies seeking approval. Once this is granted, that means that the car is safe to tow.  

However, in most cases, electric cars have not yet been approved. This is due to several factors that lead to towing having a detrimental impact on the vehicle’s performance: 

• The extra weight that the electric vehicle would be towing would substantially increase the overall weight that the electric motors need to propel forward. Electric vehicles are already substantially heavier than cars that use a combustion engine for propulsion, and towing would add to this issue. The brakes of the car could also be put under strain because of having to stop more weight than they were designed for. 

• Due to the increased weight, the range of the electric vehicle would be significantly reduced. This is because of the increased strain on the electric motors. For the motorist, this would mean having to stop and recharge their electric vehicle more regularly. 

• Another issue is electric vehicles’ use of regenerative braking. This helps to convert wasted energy from unnecessary braking back into the car’s battery, therefore giving it a longer range. Currently, most electric cars’ regenerative braking is calibrated to the specific weight of the vehicle, meaning if a heavy object was being towed it could risk disrupting the car’s electronics. 

If your electric vehicle isn’t type-approved for towing, it’s best to avoid trying. Due to not having type-approval, there’s no telling how the car might react if you tried to tow a heavy load. 

Like many electric vehicles on the market, both the Peugeot e-208 and Peugeot e-2008 aren’t capable of towing. This is because the extra weight of the caravan or trailer would have a detrimental impact on the car’s electric motors and overall performance. 

However, both of Peugeot’s electric vehicles have many advantages over their petrol-powered counterparts to make up for it, such as being kinder to the environment, requiring less maintenance, and costing less in the long run. 

Unlike electric cars, vans powered by fully electric batteries are much more adept at towing heavy payloads. This makes them the perfect vehicle for businesses seeking to be more environmentally friendly while still benefitting from the durability and functionality of a conventional van. 

The table below shows the towing capacity of a selection of Peugeot’s electric vans: 

The best alternative if you want to be environmentally friendly while also enjoying the option of being able to tow your caravan or trailer is a hybrid vehicle. This is because, unlike fully electric vehicles, hybrid cars can achieve a better balance between the performance of the vehicle and fuel economy while towing.  

Hybrid engines work using a combination of a combustion engine and an electric battery, meaning there is always a backup motor should the strain of towing start taking its toll. The other obvious added advantage is that if the vehicle does need to be refilled, it can be done so with petrol, unlike fully electric vehicles.  

This means that motorists suffer less range anxiety while towing, knowing that if they do need to stop, it will only be for five minutes at the petrol station before they can continue their journey. Also, due to having a combustion engine, their regenerative braking is much less powerful than fully electric vehicles. This means that calibration of the car’s electronics is under less stress with the addition of a caravan or trailer. 

Peugeot has an impressive range of plug-in hybrid cars which are extremely versatile – perfect for those longer journeys. The Peugeot 508 Hybrid is capable of towing up to 1,340kg and is packed with technological innovations to enhance the driving experience.   

Similar to a petrol-powered car, an electric vehicle may find itself in need of a tow because of a flat battery or mechanical fault. The good news is that, just like a car powered by a combustion engine, an electric car is capable of being towed.