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Topic: Towing with plug-in hybrid

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TrigGLX

23/10/2024 at 12:29pm
Location: Manchester
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We are looking to purchase a Plug -in Hybrid to tow with and our first electric - ish car.

So how does it all work when towing if only got say 30 - 50 mls of electric only capacity.

Just tryimg to understand the fundamentals of towing with such a vehicle.

Solo driving got my head around, but towing ?? does it mainly use then egine with back up from battery, with regen etc to keep battery topped up, or will it slowly run out of battery and then rely on engine alone, and need a top up.

any advice very welcome, otherwise will be an oil burner.

LlaniDavis

23/10/2024 at 10:42pm
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I tow with a self-charging Niro, so not that different, and it just does what it wants to. I don't worry about it and just let it get on with it. Yes it uses the battery to support the engine and sometimes it doesn't have a lot of charge, but then I go down a hill and it recharges.

les + june

24/10/2024 at 8:09am
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Quote: Originally posted by LlaniDavis on 23/10/2024
I tow with a self-charging Niro, so not that different, and it just does what it wants to. I don't worry about it and just let it get on with it. Yes it uses the battery to support the engine and sometimes it doesn't have a lot of charge, but then I go down a hill and it recharges.

I am getting a Ford Kuga hybrid. How does yours tow? What is your mpg like?

Thanks

Les

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664DaveS

via mobile 24/10/2024 at 11:13am
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Self charging hybrids tend to have a higher towing capacity than plug ins.
We tow our Bailey Phoenix with a 23 Hyundai Tucson self charge version.
It tows very well. Ours can tow 1650kg but our van has a max weight below that. The latest version has a lower towing limit.
Mpg yesterday towing was 24.5. Solo we have seen 59mpg.

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neil and lena

24/10/2024 at 1:26pm
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Quote: Originally posted by TrigGLX on 23/10/2024
We are looking to purchase a Plug -in Hybrid to tow with and our first electric - ish car.

So how does it all work when towing if only got say 30 - 50 mls of electric only capacity.

Just tryimg to understand the fundamentals of towing with such a vehicle.

Solo driving got my head around, but towing ?? does it mainly use then egine with back up from battery, with regen etc to keep battery topped up, or will it slowly run out of battery and then rely on engine alone, and need a top up.

any advice very welcome, otherwise will be an oil burner.

I tow with a Audi A6 TFSI-e PHEV , it tows very well using a combination of both electric and petrol .
I can tow in full electric mode but at best you get 20 miles before it flicks back onto petrol mode
I usually just tow in combined power modes and the car decides what it wants to do .
Once you exhaust the battery it stays on petrol engine power .
The plus side of a Plug in Hybrid is you can do all your local journeys on electric mode without even starting the engine

les + june

24/10/2024 at 6:25pm
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Quote: Originally posted by 664DaveS on 24/10/2024
Self charging hybrids tend to have a higher towing capacity than plug ins.
We tow our Bailey Phoenix with a 23 Hyundai Tucson self charge version.
It tows very well. Ours can tow 1650kg but our van has a max weight below that. The latest version has a lower towing limit.
Mpg yesterday towing was 24.5. Solo we have seen 59mpg.

The one I’m getting has a maximum tow limit of 1600kg. My Baileyy Phoenix + 642 has a MPTLM of 1450kg. We. Can’t wait for the next 2 weeks when we can hopefully get away.

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664DaveS

via mobile 24/10/2024 at 10:49pm
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We have the Phoenix GT75 640. We got it in July replacing a 2018 Unicorn Cadiz, which the hybrid towed fine despite it being heavier!

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TrigGLX

25/10/2024 at 1:10pm
Location: Manchester
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Thanks all for your replies. Got to admit still not convinced on the electric route so may well still end up with an oil burner!!!

I think day to day should be okay as can charge at work with no issues. Will just need to find a charge point when out on hols et6c. Tesco, Morrisons etc.

Will keep you updated, although not due to hcange until feb 25 anyway, but got to keep options open.

SHANTY SINGER

via mobile 25/10/2024 at 3:52pm
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Having read lots of reviews and comments on electric cars for towing I will stick to my diesel. My choice.

Mrs. Bonce

via mobile 25/10/2024 at 3:59pm
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Ours too. Nowhere to charge at home anyway.

birdman101

via mobile 26/10/2024 at 1:45pm
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Quote: Originally posted by SHANTY SINGER on 25/10/2024
Having read lots of reviews and comments on electric cars for towing I will stick to my diesel. My choice.

Same here. Family involved in the motor trade and although they have to be sold,,not entertaining having for towing caravans ourselves.

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LlaniDavis

26/10/2024 at 8:53pm
Location: Llanidloes Powys
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Quote: Originally posted by les + june on 24/10/2024

Quote: Originally posted by LlaniDavis on 23/10/2024
I tow with a self-charging Niro, so not that different, and it just does what it wants to. I don't worry about it and just let it get on with it. Yes it uses the battery to support the engine and sometimes it doesn't have a lot of charge, but then I go down a hill and it recharges.

I am getting a Ford Kuga hybrid. How does yours tow? What is your mpg like?

Thanks

Les

Tows very well, and I'm getting around 30mpg towing and 60+ solo.
Caravan is 1050kg.

tdrees

28/10/2024 at 3:35pm
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Here is how to think about it. When you are at home, and you charge every night, you have very cheap driving.
When you are not at home, you have cheaper driving as the car will act as a regular hybrid.
When towing, you get some miles at electric cost and the rest at fuel cost.

We towed for 4 years with a Volvo D6 PHEV, and we sold it to my parents who then used it to tow for 4 years (including all round the continent). It was a great tow car.

If 90% of your driving is towing, then it might not make sense. If 90% of your driving is solo (and short journeys from home, and you can charge every night) it makes sense.

PHEVs only make sense if you can charge from home and do so every night.

SamandRose

28/10/2024 at 6:38pm
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Please bear in mind that there is simply no such thing as an 'environmentally friendly car'.

Petrol produces more CO2 that damages the ozone layer. Diesel produces less CO2 but more particulates which harm the health of people living in cities. Electric vehicles move the source of pollution to the power stations and plug-in hybrids, depending on how you use them, can be the best or the worst of both worlds.

To get the benefit of a PHEV you'll need to use it mostly for short journeys (less than about 30 miles a day) and be able to charge it at home overnight. If either one of these are not the case, you'll be spending more on petrol than you would if the same car didn't have the plug-in hybrid system.

Electric cars are only really cost-effective if you do a high mileage that still allows you to return home every night to charge. Otherwise you'll struggle to recover the extra cost of buying the car in the first place before you come to sell it again. Plus towing is best limited to light weights over short distances.

If (like me) your journeys tend to be long (over 30 miles/day) and more motorway or rural than urban, and you at least want the option of being able to tow for long distances, you'll probably find that diesel is still the answer.

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tdrees

29/10/2024 at 12:06pm
Location: Northamptonshire
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Quote: Originally posted by SamandRose on 28/10/2024
Electric cars are only really cost-effective if you do a high mileage that still allows you to return home every night to charge. Otherwise you'll struggle to recover the extra cost of buying the car in the first place before you come to sell it again. Plus towing is best limited to light weights over short distances.

It depends what you mean by "light weight" and "long distance. Today, with our EV we tow 1500kg up to 300 miles a day (with a couple of stops). Each leg up to 120/130 miles.
Our next EV (I hope) will tow up to 2000kg and should have a single leg range of up to 150 miles, but it won't change our 300 miles a day limit or, likely, the number of stops we make.

When buying an EV used, the initial cost is really now in line with any other drive train cost, though I would only choose to move to one if I had home charging available.

TrigGLX

06/11/2024 at 1:31pm
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Well taken the plunge and ordered a new 2025 Skoda Kodaiq 1.5 TSI IV SEL 5dr (i.e. Plug in Hybrid)

Delivery Feb 2025. It seemed the best option after our exhaustive review of many cars.

So heres to 2025 towing adventures.

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