More and more people are driving electric cars and that also means that the number of people who go on holiday with an electric car is increasing. There are still many uncertainties, especially when it comes to the electric car as a caravan tow. Is it possible to tow a caravan with your electric car? What does this do to the range and are there alternatives if you want to go on holiday with the electric car but your EV does not appear to be the perfect caravan tow?
Surely an electric car can't pull a caravan?
There are a number of factors that play a major role when you consider whether your electric car is a caravan tow vehicle, or whether this is not an option. Models without a tow bar are often unsuitable, because the absence of a tow bar already shows that the car manufacturer did not intend the car to be a towing vehicle (although there are of course exceptions to this). Never have a tow bar fitted before you have first checked the maximum towing weight of the car.
That maximum towing weight is the second factor. If your EV does have a tow bar, then it is important to look at the maximum weight that the EV is allowed to tow. The fully loaded (so not the empty weight!) of the caravan may never exceed the maximum towing weight of the car. Not only because this is particularly bad for the car itself, but also because you are in violation if you do drive with this combination. To be sure that you have the space that is required, it is good to have a healthy gap between the empty weight of the caravan and the maximum towing weight of the car. This way you can be sure that the pillows, cups and the supply of food will not get you into trouble.
The last factor is an annoying factor, especially because this varies per car, model and situation and personal preferences vary greatly. This concerns the consumption of the car in relation to the battery pack. Cars with a higher consumption and/or a smaller battery pack are less suitable as a caravan tow, because you will be at a charging station along the road much more often. Now, however, it is immediately the case that there are now a lot of fast chargers and people with small children or pets stop more often on the road anyway - and other EV drivers want to enjoy the journey and the comfort and therefore do not find it annoying to 'refuel' more often. The last factor is therefore strongly dependent on your situation, wishes and car.
The funny thing is that an electric car is much more suitable as a caravan tow than a car with a combustion engine. The power of the engine is many times higher, which ensures that many holidaymakers with a caravan behind the electric car forget that there is a caravan behind the car during the trip. You can hardly imagine that if you have only had a caravan or trailer behind a diesel or petrol.
The best electric caravan tractors at a glance
When we look at the cars that are most suitable as a caravan tow truck, we cannot ignore the Kia EV6, the model that has won several awards in this category. The towing capacity of the Kia EV6 is 1600 kilograms, just like the BMW i4 eDrive35, whereby even the range is the same at 375 kilometers.
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is also a popular caravan tow truck with a towing capacity of 1,600 kilograms and a range of 355 kilometers, but it loses out to the (also cheaper) Tesla Model Y, which has considerably more power but a somewhat smaller range.
The Volvo XC40 Recharge is also a model that scores high. This is mainly due to the 408 hp and a towing weight of no less than 1800 kilograms. The range of 350 kilometers is also fine, but at the same time this is the most expensive model on the list, making it a slightly more exclusive option.
What about the range of an EV as a caravan tow vehicle?
No matter how you look at it, the caravan ensures that the range of the electric car is considerably lower. How much lower that is exactly depends on the power of the engine in your car and the weight and design of the caravan. With a strong electric engine and a lighter, aerodynamic caravan, the loss of range is considerably less than when one of the factors is to the disadvantage of the holidaymaker with an electric car.
On average, you can count on a loss of around 50%. Not a surprising figure for the expert, because this is also what a car with a combustion engine loses when a caravan is attached to the car.
Some practical tips when your electric car becomes a caravan tow truck
You have probably already started working with the various apps that you can use to plan your trip, such as A Better Routeplanner, Plugsurfing and Chargemap. These apps are incredibly useful when you go on holiday with an electric car as a caravan tow. Your range is lower, which means that you have to charge more often on the way. Do you want to plan a longer charging stop to eat something and stretch your legs, or let the children play? Then check the fast charging station on Google Maps first. This way you can easily see if there is something to do in the vicinity. You can also often see reviews from other users, which makes it even easier to find a location that meets your requirements.
A number of useful, short tips in a row:
- Make sure that your charging cables and mobile charger are always easily accessible.
- Check the tyre pressure of the caravan and car again. They are very important for the range.
- Only take what you really need on holiday. It is better to leave heavy things behind.
- Plan your trip in advance, but also make sure you have charging apps on your phone.
- Whenever possible, connect your charging app to your infotainment system: it makes navigation considerably easier.
- Don't drive for too long, range anxiety is even more annoying with a caravan behind the car.
- Choose Fastned charging stations. These are not only the fastest DC chargers, but are also covered stations that you can drive through. This means that you do not have to disconnect and disconnect the caravan for every charging session.
- Choose a campsite with a charging station if possible. This way you can leave the next day with a full battery, regardless of whether you are travelling or on a day trip.
- Haven't bought a caravan yet? Then take a look at the newer models that have been specifically developed for electric cars. These are lighter models that are particularly streamlined, which means they have less air resistance and save range.
At the same time, it is good to have an idea in advance about the type of holiday you want to have with an electric car as a caravan tow vehicle. If you want to be able to drive straight to your final destination, you will need more planning than if you want to stay overnight somewhere in between. If the latter is an option for you, then definitely choose a campsite with a charging station where you can charge overnight. There you can simply charge up to 100%, instead of the 80% at fast chargers along the route.
Have you never been on holiday with an electric car as a caravan puller? Then consider doing a shorter trip first, such as a holiday with the EV in the Ardennes, just across the border in Germany or even in your own country. That sounds a lot less exciting than Switzerland, Sweden or the South of France, but it does ensure that you become familiar with the caravan behind the car and the possibilities, plus the change in your range.
Alternatives you can consider
Do you have the idea that you do not want to go on holiday with an electric car as a caravan puller because you want a bit more convenience during the journey and are willing to give up some comfort at the destination? Then there are now a great many options. Many large manufacturers are active on the market and develop solutions for people who want to go on holiday with an EV.
You can look at roof tents, folding trailers and even the possibility to turn your car into a mobile hotel with special mattresses and of course V2L adapters to put a tent against your car. The range of possibilities is so wide nowadays that every holidaymaker can succeed for an option that is ideal for the situation, personal wishes and budget.
Choose your destination wisely: accommodations with a charging station
If you want to get the most out of your holiday, then choose accommodation with a charging station. More and more campsites and landlords provide at least one charging station in the area so that they can appeal to a wider audience. For you as an EV driver, this mainly means optimum convenience, because you can simply charge your electric car nearby and do not have to look for a charging station nearby while you actually just want to enjoy your holiday in your lazy chair.
Make sure you always have the right charging cable with you, so a charging cable that fits your car. This can be a type 1 charging cable, but chances are you need a type 2 charging cable. Also put a mobile home charger in your car. Chances are you don't need it, because the charging infrastructure in Europe is so good these days that you can find charging stations and fast chargers almost everywhere. However, it is also true that you can charge anywhere with the mobile home charger, so even when there is no available or working charging station nearby.
Please note that you cannot simply plug the mobile home charger into any socket. Always ask permission and ask directly which socket you can use, so that you can use a contact on a group that is otherwise almost empty.
