Anyone towing with a BEV/PHEV?
Discussion
Over the last few years I've noticed a fair few BEVs with towbars, but I've never seen one towing. Is anyone here using their EV's towbar for towing duties rather than bike carrier use?
If so, any observations, good or bad?
As an aside, I don't think I've seen any PHEVs with a towbar - are there any?
If so, any observations, good or bad?
As an aside, I don't think I've seen any PHEVs with a towbar - are there any?
We tow with our Disco Sport. We tow a big box trailer for karting and we typically do about 25mpg roughly when towing. The PHEV works for us as it's used for a 10 mile each way commute which can be done all on EV power but the odd occasion we do take the trailer all the way up the country I don't want to be unhitching, finding a charger leaving a trailer with thousands of pounds of kit in and then rehitching again late at night after a long race weekend ! It's does tow really well, especially with the hybrid assistance as it helps add torque etc
I regularly tow right up to the 3500KG weight limit with my Cayenne e-hybrid. It doesn t do much for the electric only range 
It averages overall about 15MPG towing that weight.
For reference my ML420CDi with its splendid 4.0L V8 Diesel does about 18MPG and my Q7 3.0L TDi does about 20MPG with the same usage.
The electric motor torque is useful for step off and low speed with the trailer but otherwise I would much prefer a big diesel engine but it is what it is and the road tax on the Cayenne is £65 per year compared to over £500 for the other two (Isle of Man registered). That buys a few liters of petrol.
It averages overall about 15MPG towing that weight.
For reference my ML420CDi with its splendid 4.0L V8 Diesel does about 18MPG and my Q7 3.0L TDi does about 20MPG with the same usage.
The electric motor torque is useful for step off and low speed with the trailer but otherwise I would much prefer a big diesel engine but it is what it is and the road tax on the Cayenne is £65 per year compared to over £500 for the other two (Isle of Man registered). That buys a few liters of petrol.
Edited by bigmowley on Thursday 12th February 20:48
Andrew Ditton has quite a few videos of towing a caravan with an EV6
Some of the newer EV's have a higher towing capactity but fundimentily the biggest issue is range, probably 100-120 maximum with something on the back, then trying to charge, either having to unhitch then find a charging point or a pull in bay, but again your always going to find someone alse parked in the space thats not toing or an EV.
Some of the newer EV's have a higher towing capactity but fundimentily the biggest issue is range, probably 100-120 maximum with something on the back, then trying to charge, either having to unhitch then find a charging point or a pull in bay, but again your always going to find someone alse parked in the space thats not toing or an EV.
stevemcs said:
Andrew Ditton has quite a few videos of towing a caravan with an EV6
Some of the newer EV's have a higher towing capactity but fundimentily the biggest issue is range, probably 100-120 maximum with something on the back, then trying to charge, either having to unhitch then find a charging point or a pull in bay, but again your always going to find someone alse parked in the space thats not toing or an EV.
Newer charging hubs have pull through baysSome of the newer EV's have a higher towing capactity but fundimentily the biggest issue is range, probably 100-120 maximum with something on the back, then trying to charge, either having to unhitch then find a charging point or a pull in bay, but again your always going to find someone alse parked in the space thats not toing or an EV.
Cayenne phev managed about 3 miles electric range towing. Really struggled with the weight. When the petrol engine kicked in it was like the caravan wasnt there, but sub 20 mpg
Q5 3.0 does at least 25mpg towing the same caravan, can get 30 using hypermiling techniques but who has time for that?
Q5 3.0 does at least 25mpg towing the same caravan, can get 30 using hypermiling techniques but who has time for that?
Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Thursday 12th February 22:53
OldGermanHeaps said:
Cayenne phev managed about 3 miles electric range towing. Really struggled with the weight. When the petrol engine kicked in it was like the caravan wasnt there, but sub 20 mpg
Q5 3.0 does at least 25mpg towing the same caravan, can get 30 using hypermiling techniques but who has time for that?
Is the Q5 diesel ? I’m 17-22 with a petrol Superb and 1100kgsQ5 3.0 does at least 25mpg towing the same caravan, can get 30 using hypermiling techniques but who has time for that?
Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Thursday 12th February 22:53
RizzoTheRat said:
I got a tow bar fitted to my PHEV NX, it was the first one the dealer had ever fitted and and has a nose weight of 60kg which is very low. I don't think they really expect people to tow with them!
That's pretty normal nose weight limit for an ordinary car; even my Defender is only rated to 150kg.Seems to be fairly common in the Nordic countries, based on FB group posts. Cheap HPC charging and a good charging network (with some drive-through stations) make frequent stops and increased consumption less of an issue.
For us, it's been used just for the bike carrier, will probably end up saving more than its price in "fuel" savings compared to carrying the bikes on the roof.
For us, it's been used just for the bike carrier, will probably end up saving more than its price in "fuel" savings compared to carrying the bikes on the roof.
RizzoTheRat said:
hidetheelephants said:
That's pretty normal nose weight limit for an ordinary car; even my Defender is only rated to 150kg.
Octavia and BMW 3 series are 75kg. Most small SUVs are more than that. Doesn't sound a massive difference but 60kg is pushing it for a cycle rack and 2 bikes. 
So put your bikes in a trailer or fit a roofrack?G31 530e M sport touring
As all 5 series its an amazing tow car and with the added benefit of self levelling suspension at the rear
A couple of things - 100kg tow bar weight and can tow 2000kg
But it does have a small petrol tank - this was rectified on the G61 along with a bigger battery
When towing the best option is too use the navigation as this then tells the car where and when to use the electrical energy. I have been seeing 29/30mpg with a 1500kg caravan when heading to the south of France
As all 5 series its an amazing tow car and with the added benefit of self levelling suspension at the rear
A couple of things - 100kg tow bar weight and can tow 2000kg
But it does have a small petrol tank - this was rectified on the G61 along with a bigger battery
When towing the best option is too use the navigation as this then tells the car where and when to use the electrical energy. I have been seeing 29/30mpg with a 1500kg caravan when heading to the south of France
RizzoTheRat said:
Octavia and BMW 3 series are 75kg. Most small SUVs are more than that. Doesn't sound a massive difference but 60kg is pushing it for a cycle rack and 2 bikes.
I guess it might be if they're eBikes, but very few normal pedal bikes are going to cause a problem. It looks like a typical bike rack weighs about 15-20kg, and not many normal pedal bikes weigh over 20kg! If you want to carry three bikes you might be a bit more marginal, but even then you seem to be able to get a lightweight three-bike carrier at about 10kg which leaves you 17kg per bike. With reasonably light bikes, you could even just about manage three with a 50kg limit.
I don't think I'd try to hand three eBikes off any tow-bar.
Edited by kambites on Friday 13th February 11:35
Nic-nfr74 said:
G31 530e M sport touring
As all 5 series its an amazing tow car and with the added benefit of self levelling suspension at the rear
A couple of things - 100kg tow bar weight and can tow 2000kg
But it does have a small petrol tank - this was rectified on the G61 along with a bigger battery
When towing the best option is too use the navigation as this then tells the car where and when to use the electrical energy. I have been seeing 29/30mpg with a 1500kg caravan when heading to the south of France
I looked at the 330e but the fuel tank is tiny and the boot becomes even smaller. I think I could manage with a 530e when they creep into budgetAs all 5 series its an amazing tow car and with the added benefit of self levelling suspension at the rear
A couple of things - 100kg tow bar weight and can tow 2000kg
But it does have a small petrol tank - this was rectified on the G61 along with a bigger battery
When towing the best option is too use the navigation as this then tells the car where and when to use the electrical energy. I have been seeing 29/30mpg with a 1500kg caravan when heading to the south of France
I think the Skoda is 95kg nose weight
Thanks all. With the possible exception of the Land Rover PHEV that sounds quite capable as a workhorse, it sounds like short distances are fine but best not expect to do a continental tour with a caravan.
That might actually suit me, I am rarely pulling more than 600kg and rarely more than a 150 mile round trip (I have a small trailer for DIY materials and collecting larger eBay purchases). No immediate plans to purchase but with a potential house move on the horizon an EV might be a useful purchase as my daily.
That might actually suit me, I am rarely pulling more than 600kg and rarely more than a 150 mile round trip (I have a small trailer for DIY materials and collecting larger eBay purchases). No immediate plans to purchase but with a potential house move on the horizon an EV might be a useful purchase as my daily.
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