EV terms, in plain English
Towing with an EV
Towing is about what the car can safely pull — a trailer, box trailer, or caravan — and what that does to range.
Every tow-capable EV has a rated limit (often the braked tow rating in kg). Stay under that number. Check the rating for the exact variant, not just the model name.
Electric motors produce strong torque from low speeds, which can make towing feel straightforward — but the tow rating, mass limits and real-world range still decide whether it works for you.
Don’t stop at the headline towing figure. Payload, tow-ball download, Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) and Gross Combination Mass (GCM) can also determine how much you can legally and safely carry and tow.
Good to know
- Unbraked trailers are generally capped at 750 kg in Australia even if the car’s braked number is higher.
- Towing uses more energy, so real-world range drops — sometimes a lot on hills or at highway speed. How much varies (we won’t lock a single percentage).
- Speed, hills, weather and the size and shape of what you’re towing all affect electricity use.
- Charging can need more planning: some charging bays aren’t designed for vehicles with trailers, so you may occasionally need to unhitch before charging.
- If towing is a deal-breaker for you, ShortlistEV will leave out cars that can’t do it.
Why it matters: If you tow occasionally, many EVs can handle it well. If you’re regularly towing a large caravan over long distances, look beyond the tow rating and consider real-world towing range and charging convenience too.
Ready to narrow it down? Tell us what matters and we’ll shortlist up to three EVs that fit.