With their instant torque from powerful electric motors, electric vehicles should be perfect tow trucks for those who want to hitch a caravan or hitch a trailer.
Until recently, many battery-powered models were not designed for towing. A combination of their short ranges made almost unusable practically useless by the efforts to pull a heavy load and their already high curb weights, which resulted in such a low tow limit.
However, improvements in battery and motor technology have made adding a tow bar no longer a problem. Some even fit conventional gasoline and diesel machines to draw electricity.
Here we rate the 10 most muscular EV tow trucks based on their maximum rated capacity for a braked trailer.
= 7. Tesla Model 3
Like so many aspects of Tesla vehicles, the Model 3’s towing capacity was recently increased from 910 kg to 1000 kg thanks to a software update. While that looks like a decent number on paper (and on screen), even with the most powerful performance model, it’s just enough to pull the smallest travel trailer or medium-sized trailer.
Also worth mentioning is the fact that you can only list a tow bar as an official factory item, which weighs around £ 1000. This means that there is no way to add a tow bar at a later time. So if you are buying a used towbar and you want a towbar, you need to look for an example with it installed when new.
With a relatively low towing limit and such powerful electric motors, the Model 3 can comfortably handle anything you couple, and when you’re not pulling a load, the five-door hatchback remains Tesla’s most attractive product with affordable handling, a decent ride, and effortless performance.
= 7. Citroën e-Spacetourer, Peugeot e-Traveler and Vauxhall e-Vivaro Life
We cheated a little here when bundling this trio of van-based MPVs, but that’s because these Stellantis siblings are essentially the same behind the various badges.
Under the almost identical box-shaped body there is a 134 hp electric motor and a 50 kWh lithium-ion battery (although a 75 kWh option is on the way) that offers a WLTP range of 143 miles. The towing limit of 1000 kg is also divided, which, as with the Tesla Model 3, means that only small trailers and caravans have to be used.
However, unlike the slender Silicon Valley offshoot, these people carriers can be fitted with a tow bar at any time (and at a very affordable price of £ 300 for the Vauxhall).
Elsewhere, the triplets are among the most practical electric vehicles you can buy. Their cavernous cabins can accommodate up to nine people, and when their seats are removed there is literally van-like carrying capacity.
On the go, they’re more powerful and more relaxed than necessary, while Citroën and Peugeot come with an optional trick traction control system that can help pull a caravan out of a muddy campsite.
