Can Electric Vans Tow A Trailer?

Vanaways
Vanaways
29th Aug 2022
Can Electric Vans Tow A Trailer?

On the surface, electric vans may seem like the ideal solution for towing heavy loads in a trailer, due to their efficiency and power, but in truth, there are a number of significant concerns and reasons when attaching a trailer to your electric vehicle, that should be considered first. Below, we outline some of the major risks and concerns associated with using an electric van to tow a trailer.  

Weight Issues

One of the major reasons why electric vans aren’t currently able to tow trailers is the issue of weight. After all, electric vans are heavy, due to the significant weight of the battery pack required to power them, which, when combined with the additional weight of a trailer, could cause some concerns. 

When adding additional weight to your electric van with a trailer, you are placing increased strain on the braking and transmission components, which can cause both serious damage to your electric van as well as present troubling safety issues. Not only will this likely lead to your electric van components suffering the impact of wear and tear much more quickly, but it will also likely affect braking, performance and handling. 

Stopping Problems

Due to their efficient design, which uses an electric motor to transport energy earned from deceleration and use it to power the battery, electric vans that are attached to a trailer could cause braking problems as a result of the additional weight. 

Electric vehicles are naturally quite heavy, typically weighing 150-300kg more than their petrol counterparts, which means that attaching a trailer packed full of heavy cargo will likely struggle with the additional demands that are being placed on your electric van’s most crucial components. 

This system is delicately balanced, which means there is a risk of additional kinetic energy produced by the trailer potentially overloading the battery system, as well as placing your braking system under additional strain. 

Range Concerns

Another key reason why towing a trailer to your electric van is potentially a risky idea, are the concerns with your maximum range. Not only will additional weight cause safety issues with your braking system, but it will also naturally impact your electric vans’ efficiency levels. This means it will use electricity much faster and need recharging more regularly. 

Electric vehicles, although improving every day, still have a fairly limited range, with charging times far longer than traditional fuel, thereby causing significant range concerns when placing unnecessary weight by towing a trailer.  

Looking for new or electric vans for sale? At Vanaways, we’re the home of low-cost vans. If you’re looking for small electric vans for sale, used van deals, or quality used vans, we have everything you need to suit your requirements. Get in touch with us today

Vanaways Reviews

   
Steve Brown

Steve Brown

22 May 2026

"From start to finish vanaways uk nailed it love my new van from Jack selling me it to Ellie looking after my every wish perfectly done am so pleased will definitely use them again"

Lisa Partington

Lisa Partington

29 May 2026

"We cannot fault the service we have received from everyone we have dealt with at Vanaways and will definitely by contacting you again when we come to replace our next vehicle……. On the whole, Customer service, these days, I have found to be quite disappointing and frustrating – I wish more companies showed the care and attention to detail that you guys have shown… you have restored my faith in Vehicle sales teams!! I would not hesitate in recommending you and wish all of our suppliers were are easy to deal with as you have been!! Thankyou especially to Shina and Sophie...."

Simon Grave

Simon Grave

18 July 2026

"An absolutely brilliant company to deal with. Every part of getting my new vehicle was easy. Great communication process and always kept updated at every stage. Big thank you to Jacob and also everyone else who I spoke to and can’t remember their names, all great to deal with. Thank you"

John Owens

John Owens

14 April 2026

"Fantastic service from start to finish. This is the second vehicle we have had from Liam.Liam took the time to listen to the vehicle that I wanted, sourced exactly what I wanted. Within 2 weeks the right vehicle was sourced and delivered Joe was amazing kept me up to date with the progress, the van was delivered this morning early. highly recommend these guys for vehicles Thank you both"

4.8 out of 5 from 510 reviews
Back to top