When an electric car gets a flat tire, runs out of charge, or experiences any other kind of mechanical problem that renders it undrivable, you may be tempted to hook it up to another vehicle and drag it down the road. But as it turns out, that might not be the best move.
You can’t tow an electric vehicle if it breaks down because that can damage the motor and other components. Towing requires a “true” neutral gear, which electric cars lack. Some electric cars have tow mode, but that’s only meant to be used to load the vehicle onto a flatbed.
Read on to learn more about why you shouldn’t tow an electric car, the correct way to transport one if it breaks down, what to consider, the precautions to take, and more. Let’s dive in!
Why You Shouldn’t Tow an Electric Car
Towing an electric car can damage the motor and other components. That goes for all-electric cars, including those with a Tow Mode like Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric. It’s essential for owners to understand the limitations and proper methods for towing electric vehicles. While certain models may advertise electric car towing capabilities, it’s crucial to consult the manufacturer’s guidelines to avoid potential damage. Always use a flatbed or follow the recommended towing practices specific to the vehicle to ensure its longevity and performance.
According to Volvo’s guidelines, the Tow Mode is only meant to let you roll the car onto a flatbed so that you don’t have to drag it down the road after a breakdown. The manufacturer advises against any form of transport that causes any wheels to roll on the ground.
Tesla has a “tow mode,” albeit in a different name: the Transport Mode. Regardless of the name, the consensus is the same: Even with Tow or Transport modes on, the car shouldn’t be transported with the wheels touching the ground.
Tesla even goes a step further to prevent you from towing your EV and damaging it. Per Tesla model 3’s transportation instructions, the tires are only allowed to spin for less than 10 m (32.81 ft) at 5 km/h (3.11 mph), barely the speed and distance required to winch the car onto a flatbed or pull it out of the parking lot to reposition it.
On a somewhat similar note, I also wrote a helpful article about the Pros and Cons of Tesla Towing. Check it out if this applies to your situation. You might find some tricks.
Why You Shouldn’t Tow an Electric Car
So far, I’ve established that you shouldn’t tow an electric car because doing so can damage the motor and other internal components. What I’m yet to cover is what causes the damage. Damage occurs primarily due to the unique design of electric vehicles, which often relies heavily on their electric motors and battery systems. When towed improperly, these components can experience strain or disconnection, leading to costly repairs. For owners looking to maintain their electric vehicles, it’s also wise to follow electric car carwash safety tips to ensure the longevity of both the battery and motor.
The reason towing electric cars damages the motor, and other components are that EVs lack a “true” neutral mode, a must-have for any vehicle to be towed safely over significant distances.
If you’d like to find the 10 Best Electric Cars for Towing a Caravan, also check out this related article that I wrote. Additionally, you’ll find valuable insights on how to maximize your towing experience with an electric vehicle. For those new to electric car ownership, be sure to explore some essential electric car ownership tips that can enhance your driving efficiency and range management. Understanding charging options and battery maintenance will ensure you have a smooth journey while towing your caravan.
What does the neutral mode have to do with towing?
In a gas-powered vehicle, shifting to neutral gear disconnects the engine from the drivetrain (which connects the wheels to the engine), allowing the vehicle to move freely without rotating engine or transmission components. This way, towing only rolls wheels, helping prevent damage to the engine or transmission.
That isn’t necessarily the case with an electric car because its neutral works differently. Selecting neutral in an electric car doesn’t disengage the motor (i.e., the “engine” in an electric car) from the wheels.
In this sense, the neutral mode on an electric car doesn’t function like a “true neutral.” In fact, these cars don’t even have an actual neutral gear.
The N selection you see on the gear selector pad is only meant to disconnect the motor from the control system so you can roll the car onto/off a flatbed or other similar surface for repair and maintenance.
So when you tow an electric car in neutral mode, the wheels spin the motor with every turn, causing all kinds of damage. The risk of motor damage is especially high for electric cars with a liquid cooling system.
In such electric cars, turning the wheels when towing engages the motor at high RPM and overheats it to destruction.
What’s the Safest Way To Tow a Broken-Down Electric Car?
The safest way to tow an electric car for whatever reason would be to use a flatbed. Sure, it might not necessarily be “towing” per se, but it’s the recommended method for transporting broken-down electric cars.
Don’t believe me? Take a closer look at your car’s owner manual; you’ll find a flatbed as the recommended “towing” method.
Even though a flatbed is the safest way to transport a broken-down electric car, you need to take care to avoid damaging the vehicle when loading and unloading it.
While you might not be the person doing the loading and unloading, it helps to know the correct way so you can call out your tow service providers if they’re doing things wrong.
Here’s a handy YouTube video on how to safely load and unload a car from a flatbed:
What if You Can’t Access a Flatbed?
If you don’t have access to a flatbed towing service and are stranded in the middle of nowhere, you can take your chances with traditional towing if (and this is a big “if”) your car has neutral mode and a front-wheel drive.
I’ve already covered the role of the neutral mode in towing, so I won’t go into that. What’s worth our attention at this point is why a front-wheel-drive electric car is considered safer to tow.
Traditionally, a front-wheel-drive means that the engine only drives the front wheels. In the case of an electric car, front-wheel drive means that the motor only propels the front wheels.
What this means regarding towing is that it allows you to tow your car with the front, “driven” wheels aloft. Having front-wheel drive means that only the front wheels are connected to the motor. Thus, towing the vehicle with the front wheels aloft prevents them from spinning the motor, reducing the risk of damage.
Neutral mode isn’t hard to find in electric cars. In fact, all 2020 best-sellers have it. However, not all-electric cars are front-wheel driven, as shown in the table below:
| Car model | Is neutral mode available? | Is front-wheel drive available? |
| Tesla Model 3 | yes | no |
| Renault Zoe | yes | yes |
| Wuling Hongguang Mini EV | yes | no |
| Tesla Model Y | yes | no |
| Hyundai Kona Electric | yes | yes |
| Volkswagen ID.3 | yes | no |
| Nissan LEAF | yes | yes |
| SAIC Baojun E-series | yes | yes |
| Audi E-Tron | yes | no |
| Great Wall ORA R1/Black cat | yes | yes |
It’s worth noting that despite the LEAF having both neutral mode and front-wheel drives, Nissan advises against towing it. Chevy also has a front-wheel-driven model with neutral mode (the Volt), and they, too, are against dragging the EV down the road on its wheels. Most manufacturers share the same view.
All this is to say that if your EV breaks down, towing it should be the very last resort even if your car has the “two-facilitating” features mentioned above. If you must do it, make sure it’s for a mile or two.
If you can’t find a flatbed and don’t have a front-wheel-driven car, use wheel lifts and dollies to keep all the wheels off the ground. And while this method may keep the wheels from spinning, it’s only ideal for maximum distances of about 50 km (31.07 mi).
