Last verified: 5 October 2026
The physics, briefly
A caravan adds weight and, worse, a wall of drag. Weight costs you on hills; drag costs you everywhere above 80km/h. Together they turn a 480km car into a 240km car. That's still usable — Australia's charging corridors now have sites every 100–200km — but spontaneity dies. You plan, or you walk.
Which EVs tow, and how much
- Zeekr 7X: 2,000kg — the mainstream tow king, plus 800V charging to shrink stops
- Tesla Model Y: 1,600kg — Supercharger network is the real advantage
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 / Kia EV6: 1,600kg — V2L runs caravan appliances at camp
- BMW i4: 1,600kg; Volvo EX30: 1,600kg
- Check the fine print: towball download limits and whether the rating assumes trailer brakes
The charger problem — and its partial solution
Most charging bays require reversing out a trailer or unhitching to charge. Ampol's drive-through AmpCharge bays are the honourable exception, and new ultra-rapid sites increasingly include them. Before any towing trip, call the site or check recent PlugShare photos for bay orientation — the app data doesn't reliably capture it yet.
Frequently asked questions
Typically 40–50% with a full-height caravan at highway speed; 25–35% with a low camper trailer. Plan legs at half the car's WLTP figure and you'll arrive with margin.
On paper the Zeekr 7X (2,000kg rating, ultra-fast 800V charging). In practice the Tesla Model Y wins many buyers on Supercharger reliability alone. For camping, Kia/Hyundai's V2L to power the van is a genuine killer feature.
Usually yes — most bays are nose-in. Drive-through bays exist at some Ampol AmpCharge sites and newer ultra-rapid builds. Verify bay layout via PlugShare photos before committing to a route.
Not intrinsically — sustained load is fine. The watch-items are heat (fast charging straight after hard towing can be slower while the pack cools) and simply using more energy per km. Battery warranties don't exclude towing within rated limits.