EV for towing twin axle trailer

[gotoPzero]

If you were coming from an X5 size SUV what EV would you suggest for occasionally towing a flat bed twin axle trailer?

Its used for garden waste, moving bulky items etc. Usually sub 350kg load. Max round trip say 100 miles.

Trailer is used maybe twice a month.

[Skodillac]

Well I saw a Tesla Model Y towing a caravan in France recently, so maybe that would do the job.



Obviously your budget will be key.

[gotoPzero]

Would be £50-60k I would have thought, around 6 months old. Its not for me but have been tasked with finding something.

[Skodillac]

Nice budget. Practical Caravan magazine says KIA EV9:

https://www.practicalcaravan.com/buying-guides/the...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604281...

[RobbyJ]

gotoPzero said:

Would be £50-60k I would have thought, around 6 months old. Its not for me but have been tasked with finding something.

BMW iX? Maybe not 6 months old but there are some great deals out there.

[JQ]

I use my iX1 Drive30 for towing a large camping trailer - 310bhp, 4wd, factory fit towbar is excellent. Range is impacted but not massively - will get 180 miles driving sensibly.

[Stevemr]

Kua EV6 will tow 1600kg.
Tow bar and 13 pin electrics is £1016 fitted by Kia.

[GT6k]

Kia ev9s get good reviews and can tow 2500 kgs. A friend uses one for towing a big twin axle caravan.

[SWoll]

RobbyJ said:

BMW iX? Maybe not 6 months old but there are some great deals out there.

You'll get a well specced iX 45 on a 75 plate easily in budget.

Edited by SWoll on Wednesday 3rd June 15:33

[gotoPzero]

Cheers that looks decent.

The EV9 / 6 was already in the back of my mind. The 9 is probably a tad too big the 6 is a bit small.

I would recommend the Model Y but its going to be tech overload.

Any idea what the real world range is like on the BMW?

I think he needs c.250 miles to be on the safe side.

Also I have a Tesla and charging is fairly straight forward - is the BMW compatible with Tesla or no?

[Skodillac]

From an AI answer: "Tesla has opened 92 Supercharger sites to other vehicle makes in the UK. This accounts for over 477 individual Supercharger stalls, meaning that more than 50% of Tesla's total UK Supercharger network is now accessible to drivers of non-Tesla electric vehicles."

I charged my VW EV at 2 Tesla chargers in France recently.

Your bloke's use pattern sounds like he'd only ever need to charge at home though.

BMW iX towing considerations:

Edited by Skodillac on Wednesday 3rd June 16:18

[ashenfie]

Didn't they change the rules, so that everyone with a standard driving licence automatically get category BE?

[SWoll]

gotoPzero said:

Cheers that looks decent.

The EV9 / 6 was already in the back of my mind. The 9 is probably a tad too big the 6 is a bit small.

I would recommend the Model Y but its going to be tech overload.

Any idea what the real world range is like on the BMW?

I think he needs c.250 miles to be on the safe side.

Also I have a Tesla and charging is fairly straight forward - is the BMW compatible with Tesla or no?

The iX 45 has a 100kWh battery so will do 250+ miles all year round without issue.

Many Tesla locations now allow any EV to charge, just have a quick check beforehand to be sure.

On the iX, advise him to look for one with the adaptive air suspension option as makes a big difference to ride comfort.

[oop north]

I had an iX for 38 months until this afternoon (traded it in for an iX3). The biggest problem with an iX will be finding one with a factory towbar already fitted. Adding a towbar will be rather tricky I think - hideously expensive if not already fitted. An EV9 looks a good shout though occasional use of a flat trailer isn’t something that requires one so large

[gotoPzero]

Its looking like the iX is going to be favourite. Macan 4 maybe another option. EV9 is going to be too big I think.

[pherlopolus]

I think the Mecan has a 2t tow limit…

[Cristio Nasser]

A used Audi e-tron 55 is a good shout. AWD, standard self leveling air suspension, 1,800kg towing capacity, fast charging, cheap.

[aterribleusername]

ashenfie said:

Didn't they change the rules, so that everyone with a standard driving licence automatically get category BE?

Yes but it's not automatic. You have to replace your license card (or get a card if you're still on paper) so that it explicitly says B+E entitlement on it. A few caravanners have been caught out by that but that I know of.

[gangzoom]

gotoPzero said:

Its looking like the iX is going to be favourite. Macan 4 maybe another option. EV9 is going to be too big I think.

If you are towing 100 miles it's going to kill efficiency. You essentially need the car with the biggest possible battery. Both the Macan and EV9 have less than 100kWh so the iX seems like the most sensible.

[gangzoom]

SWoll said:

The iX 45 has a 100kWh battery so will do 250+ miles all year round without issue.

Many Tesla locations now allow any EV to charge, just have a quick check beforehand to be sure.

I doubt any EV onsale today will do 250 miles range whilst towing a proper trailer. The idea of trying to charge one mid route with a trailer attached will be quickly forgotten if you start looking at the logistics of how to actually do it.

I did seem someone towing a caravan charge a X at a SC site. The had to first park the caravan, disconnect the caravan, than charge and than repeat. I've never understood the fun of towing a caravan, for me towing in an EV than having to charge midway is the total opposite of fun .