The State of Heavy-Duty Towing in EVs 

As the Electric Vehicle (EV) space has continued to grow, consumers have increasingly looked toward the space for their towing needs. Manufactures like Ford, Rivian, GMC, and Tesla are beginning to tout claims of practical towing uses for their electric pickup trucks. With more EV pickups on the way, we'll take a look at the current state of towing with EVs, and what it will look like in the future.

Towing Capacity

With the release of the Rivian R1T in 2021, the potential of using EVs for heavy-duty towing began. There are currently six different Pickup EVs available on the market, and in early 2025 the Ram 1500 EV is set to make it seven. Depending on the battery options selected, all seven have the ability to compete with ICE (Internal combustion engine) vehicles when strictly looking at towing capacity. Although none yet can tow over 14,000 lb. Below is listed the highest towing capacity trim claimed by each manufacturer, for the 2025 model year. 

While a large step up from just a few years ago, these numbers still don't compare with the highest capacity towing options for ICE vehicles. While Chevrolet has claimed that they'll have an EV with a towing capacity of 20,000 lb. in the next couple years, that has yet to be seen or announced as of yet. If you are part of the small market of consumers that requires over 15,000 lb. of towing capacity, you'll need to look to ICE vehicles for your uses for the time being. 

The Towing Range Problem

 The largest obstacle that car makers are running into with EV towing is the drastically decreased range of the vehicles while towing medium to large weight loads. Accumulating numerous tests done by Car and Driver, Edmunds, Consumer Reports, J.D. Power, and more, it's apparent in real world use that the range of EVs plummets. Car and Driver found when towing a 6,000 lb. trailer, the F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, and Hummer EV get around 100, 110, and 140 miles of range respectively. This is a between. 50%-75% decrease in efficiency while far away from the maximum towing capacity. For an electric vehicle, this problem is compounded by the fact that charging your vehicle takes far more time than filling up a gas tank. This doesn't mean long-haul towing will never be a practical option for an EV, just that their are still hurdles that need to be overcome to truly be competitive and practical in comparison to current ICE vehicles.

How EVs can Improve

If you don't need to travel long distances, an EV can absolutely be a good option for you. However, the future viability of EVs in long distance towing is going to come down to a few factors. One is the ability for EV manufacturers to increase the range of their vehicles. Towing heavy loads is always going to take a toll on energy efficiency, so improving the batteries will be crucial to help the range of these EVs. Next is decreasing the charging time for the batteries. One factor in long distance travel that ICE vehicles have a huge advantage in is the time it takes to refuel the vehicle. Improving the quick charge abilities of these vehicles will be crucial to be a competitive option in long haul towing. As it currently sits even when using a fast charger these vehicles take at a minimum of 35 minutes to get to 80% battery charge, while larger batteries can take over an hour. This also connects to last hurdle which is stark difference in the current charging infrastructure vs. gas stations which are ubiquitous. Although the state of EV charging while on the road is getting better every year, it will take some time for the infrastructure to rival ICE vehicles practicality when traveling long distances. 

Conclusion

As towing with an electric vehicle becomes more viable, many consumers are still unsure whether an EV could be the right choice for them. With the advent of electric trucks and pickups, the technology is only improving. Already capable in shorter distances, the ability for electric vehicles to rival ICE vehicles in heavy-duty towing applications is somewhere on the horizon. As a consumer, it comes down to your intended application when considering whether an EV is the right choice for you in their current state.