Exhaust-free, quieter, greener, yet dynamic and powerful. Electric car owners have many arguments as to why they chose this type of vehicle. Modern electric cars can travel long distances on a single charge, and in some cases their ranges are comparable to those of combustion cars on a single tank. And since an electric vehicle can be used to go on a long trip, this also opens up possibilities for caravanning use. No one is surprised by electric cars with a caravan anymore, and more and more campgrounds are offering their customers fast-charging stations for electric vehicles in addition to the standard access to electricity. So are electric cars the future of caravanning?
Table of Contents:
- Can electric cars have a hitch installed?
- Can an electric car tow a caravan?
- Does towing a caravan by electric require a special driver’s license?
- Electric car – range with caravan
- Electric travel with a trailer – what to pay attention to
- Electric car at the campsite
- Which electric cars can tow a caravan?
- What kind of caravan for an electric car
Can electric cars have a hitch installed?
Not all electric cars are approved for towbar installation. This is especially true for smaller models. It is worth checking whether a particular model of vehicle can definitely tow a trailer, even if you can install a hitch. Some electric car manufacturers impose restrictions on this issue, i.e. impose a limit on the weight applied to the hook. You will find all the relevant information on this subject in the registration certificate of your vehicle. Most electric vehicles do not have a factory-installed hook. You need to do it on your own at a suitable workshop, also remembering to legalize the hitch – it is necessary to inspect the hitch at a vehicle inspection station and register the hitch with the municipality (the hitch must be entered in the vehicle registration certificate).
Can an electric car tow a caravan?
The ability to tow a trailer depends on the conditions on the vehicle’s registration certificate. Many electric car models can have a hitch installed and tow a caravan of up to 750 kg. And select electric SUVs can even pull heavier trailers, for example.
a caravan with a GVW of 1000 kg
or
a caravan with a GVW of 1400 kg.
Does towing a caravan by electric require a special driver’s license?
In this case, the rules are the same as for internal combustion vehicles. Electric cars tend to be heavier than combustion cars, so before you plan a trip with a trailer, check the GVW of your vehicle in the registration certificate and then add the GVW of the trailer to that. This will give you the DMC of your kit.
For a category B license, you can drive a passenger car with a caravan if the GVW of such a combination does not exceed 3.5 tons. If the GVW of an electrician + caravan combination exceeds 3.5 tons, then you can try to choose a lighter trailer or make a B+E license. Check,
What license is needed to tow a caravan with an electric .
.
Electric car – range with caravan
The power consumption of an electric car with a trailer is up to 40-50% higher than that calculated for the vehicle alone. That is, for example, a car that can normally travel 500km on a full charge, this range is reduced to 250km when towing a caravan.
The reduction in range depends primarily on the weight of the trailer and its ergonomics, as well as the use of heating or air conditioning while driving. That’s why you need to assume at least twice as many stops to recharge the vehicle already in the initial route planning. As you drive, the car will indicate the range in real time, so you can later adjust your initial plan for stops along the route on this basis.
For a category B license, you can drive a passenger car with a caravan if the GVW of such a combination does not exceed 3.5 tons. If the GVW of an electrician + caravan combination exceeds 3.5 tons, then you can try to choose a lighter trailer or make a B+E license. Check,
What license is needed to tow a caravan with an electric .
.
Electric travel with a trailer – what to pay attention to
Towing a trailer with an electric car is not much different from driving without a trailer, you can accelerate dynamically, which is a bit more difficult with internal combustion cars.
Charging an electric car takes much longer than filling up with gasoline, of course. That’s why it’s a good idea to plan a lunch near the recharging point or just a longer walk for recovery. Having a caravan, you can also simply relax inside it during this time. Some vehicle charging stations are not designed to charge long vehicles, so when traveling there may be situations that require unhooking the trailer to use the charger.
Electric car at the campsite
Before choosing a campsite in advance, get information about the availability (and also efficiency!) of a charger designed to charge electric cars. Usually this information is on the website, but it is better to make sure by phone before you arrive. In the absence of a special charger, there is the possibility of emergency charging with “ordinary” electricity at the campsite. However, this is very inefficient, and besides, some campgrounds do not allow electric cars to be charged outside of designated charging stations. Violating this prohibition can even result in expulsion from the campsite, as once happened to a “creative” Tesla owner who even hid his car in a tent to plug it in there.
Which electric cars can tow a caravan?
Many models of electrics allow towing only very light, small trailers with a GVW of 750kg. However, there are several electric cars that can also tow heavier caravans. Examples of electric car models that can tow a trailer (maximum weight of a braked trailer, with overrun brake).
- Audi e-Tron/Q4 e-Tron – 1800 kg.
- BMW iX3 – 750 kg
- Citroen e-Spacetourer – 1000 kg
- Citroen e-Jumpy – 1000 kg
- Mercedes EQA – 750 kg
- Mercedes EQS – 750 kg
- Mercedes EQC – 1800 kg
- Opel Zafira e-Life – 1000 kg
- Skoda Enyag – 1000 kg
- Tesla Model Y – 1600 kg
- Tesla Model X – 2268 kg
- Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric – 1500kg.
- Volksvagen ID.4 – 1200 kg
What kind of caravan for an electric car
KoKo Kamper offers caravans that will work well for many models of electric vehicles. For electric owners looking for a lightweight trailer, we particularly recommend the Adria Aviva 360 DK model, with a GVW of 1,000 kg, which, despite its compact size, has all the elements needed for a comfortable rest, comfortable beds, a kitchenette and even a toilet with a toilet. Adria Aviva 360 DK caravan has an ergonomic shape and lightweight design that make it easy to maneuver when traveling and parking. It is worth remembering that ergonomics is especially important when traveling in an electric car, as towing a high-drag trailer can definitely reduce the vehicle’s range.
At KoKo Kamper we also have comfortable
caravans with a GVW of 1400 kg
and
caravans with a GVW of 1600 kg.
Electric vehicles continue to grow in popularity, which translates directly into the expansion of infrastructure and the availability of chargers, which can already be found at most gas stations and at large shopping centers. Also, more and more campgrounds are providing charging stations for electric vehicle owners. The sight of an electric car with a caravan is an increasingly common sight on the road and at campgrounds.
