Hi, I have read the recent article on the Kia EV 9. I suppose my question is how can car be voted number one when the mileage that it achieves when a caravan is attached is abysmal? I don’t think many people could consider this car as a viable option with it mileage, taxation group and price. Just to say that I have a 2016 Kia Sorrento, towing a Bailey Bologna and it is a superb tower. I am not adverse to new technology as our house is heated via an air source system but moving to an electric vehicle at this time is a step too far.
EV towing vehicles
- Thread starter Trebor100
- Start date
- Nov 16, 2015
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- Mar 14, 2005
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Hi. trebor, welcome to the forum. As you get to know more about the Forum, you will discover the topics about EV's can become hot potatoes, with often long held opinions coming to boil. Nothing wrong with a good debate. Just stick to facts.
As soon as you hitch any trailer to a car, you immediately hurt that cars efficiency, yes the milage per Gallon efficiency of even the most sought after towing vehicle drops. Ironically, it affects the most efficient vehicles the most. That is why EV tow ranges do seem sub par.
To put it into perspective, a litre of petrol or diesel each has closed to 10 kWh of chemical energy in each litre. When you consider that even today an a large EV may only have 100kWh battery capacity, and yet modern EV might have 350 mile range, that represents quite incredible running efficiency. Hold that thought. Now how far could your typical ICE car go with just the same amount of energy(10L) in the tank? You'd be lucky to get 45 miles, and do the same whilst towing, it would of course be much less.
That shows the efficiency of EVs, and is at this stage, why the still don't meet everyone's wishes.
But having said that, there are some members on this forum who already do caravan with EV.s. if you approach EV ownership with a no change needed perspective, you probably will be disappointed. Owning and using an EV does need a change of plan, so do look up the likes of Tobes, and others who have transitioned to which changes of approach have made it possible for them.
Beyond that, the future is changing, in particular mew battery technology is continually improving which will make it possible to recharge an increasing number of EV's from 10 to 80% in only 10 minutes, and as the infrastructure improves, it will become more realistic to caravan.
But also understand, it's likely the access to caravanning may also change overtime, it's a moving platform
As soon as you hitch any trailer to a car, you immediately hurt that cars efficiency, yes the milage per Gallon efficiency of even the most sought after towing vehicle drops. Ironically, it affects the most efficient vehicles the most. That is why EV tow ranges do seem sub par.
To put it into perspective, a litre of petrol or diesel each has closed to 10 kWh of chemical energy in each litre. When you consider that even today an a large EV may only have 100kWh battery capacity, and yet modern EV might have 350 mile range, that represents quite incredible running efficiency. Hold that thought. Now how far could your typical ICE car go with just the same amount of energy(10L) in the tank? You'd be lucky to get 45 miles, and do the same whilst towing, it would of course be much less.
That shows the efficiency of EVs, and is at this stage, why the still don't meet everyone's wishes.
But having said that, there are some members on this forum who already do caravan with EV.s. if you approach EV ownership with a no change needed perspective, you probably will be disappointed. Owning and using an EV does need a change of plan, so do look up the likes of Tobes, and others who have transitioned to which changes of approach have made it possible for them.
Beyond that, the future is changing, in particular mew battery technology is continually improving which will make it possible to recharge an increasing number of EV's from 10 to 80% in only 10 minutes, and as the infrastructure improves, it will become more realistic to caravan.
But also understand, it's likely the access to caravanning may also change overtime, it's a moving platform
- Nov 11, 2009
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Should not really have come as a shock. But one member (Tobes) does tow his caravan with a Polestar so might be worth doing a search and read some of Tobes posts. But certainly towing with an EV would require changes to an approach based on a conventional ICE. No more 400 miles no stop. But EV range is extending year on year, and new solid state batteries are being mooted for the next generation of EVs. Fundamentally though towing a caravan is not currently top of the car makers priories.
Last edited:
- Jul 23, 2021
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Hi Trebor - welcome to the forum. As Prof and OtherClive have said, it's all about horses for courses. There are many criteria associated with tow cars, of which going range is just one. I happen to be a company car driver, a nice perk associated with my job, but which requires I choose an EV for my car. As such, any diesel car is outside of my scope of choice. With 130 to 140 miles range (towing a Bailey Unicorn Vigo) in my previous car and 160 to 180 in my current car, EV range is simply not a problem (for me). Having moved to an EV back in 2020, I can honestly say I would never go back to petrol or diesel even a s a private driver.
So for me, the tow car of the year awards including EVs is a positive step as it gives a good understanding of what towing EVs are on the market that I may choose to look at.
Tobes
So for me, the tow car of the year awards including EVs is a positive step as it gives a good understanding of what towing EVs are on the market that I may choose to look at.
Tobes
- Jun 20, 2005
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Frequency? How often will I tow more than 100 miles annually?
The reality and perception are different.
Probably only 4 or 5 of our towing journeys exceed 100 miles in a year. The rest sub100. I realise like it or not a Kia EV9 would suit me reasonably well. As we age the days of non stop 200 mile plus tugs are waning.
A lot of oldies prefer to make overnight stays as part of their holiday or just take their time including regular breaks including the opportunity for a charge up.
Son has a Volvo Recharge. He manages long journeys with youngsters no problem but not towing. Motorway services chargers are expensive compared to the Tesla and other off motorway ones. Charge up times to 80% are not bad and certainly something I could live with. I’d like to know about charger access for tuggers . I’m sure Tobes will know a lot more.
Thus whilst I remain in the diesel camp I envisage in the future I will be happy to go EV like the Kia EV9. I suspect prices will continue to drop for EVs . Three year old models are going for ridiculous prices, which is good for the punter.
The reality and perception are different.
Probably only 4 or 5 of our towing journeys exceed 100 miles in a year. The rest sub100. I realise like it or not a Kia EV9 would suit me reasonably well. As we age the days of non stop 200 mile plus tugs are waning.
A lot of oldies prefer to make overnight stays as part of their holiday or just take their time including regular breaks including the opportunity for a charge up.
Son has a Volvo Recharge. He manages long journeys with youngsters no problem but not towing. Motorway services chargers are expensive compared to the Tesla and other off motorway ones. Charge up times to 80% are not bad and certainly something I could live with. I’d like to know about charger access for tuggers . I’m sure Tobes will know a lot more.
Thus whilst I remain in the diesel camp I envisage in the future I will be happy to go EV like the Kia EV9. I suspect prices will continue to drop for EVs . Three year old models are going for ridiculous prices, which is good for the punter.
I am generally a bit sceptical about articles that say that a particular product is the best. IMHO, it is often just a marketing excercise, sponsered by a manufacturer to promote their product.
Before taking the claim seriously, I would be looking to understand who was doing the voting and what products were they able to choose between. For example, if the choice was purely between similar sized EV's then yes, very plausible; but it it was based on perfermance and range, etc, and included ICE cars, not a cat in hell's chance.
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