While EVs have their many advantages, it’s not often that towing is considered one of their strong suits. The loss of range, combined with not being able to quickly juice up, is enough to put the frighteners on any trailer-owning potential EV convert. But perhaps those fears aren’t as justified as you may think.
Youtuber Tesla Canuck decided to document exactly how well a Tesla Model Y would tow a 3000-pound (1360 kg) boat. The Model Y has a towing capacity of 3500 pounds (1587 kg) and, without a trailer hitched up, it has an EPA estimated range of 326 miles (525 km).
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While range did take the expected hit, the 98-mile (158 km) drive was achievable. The Tesla used up 53 percent of its charge on the journey, which works out to an estimated cost of $7.46 ($0.14 per kWh). According to the host, although this meant the car was only working at 45 percent efficiency as over half of the Model Y’s range was lost, he reasons that the range lost on a full tank of gas with an ICE-powered vehicle would be roughly the same. The host also estimates that the same journey would’ve used 13.3 liters of fuel (3.5 gallons), which, depending on gas prices, would still make the EV the cheaper bet.
As for what it is like using a Model Y to tow, the process is as straightforward as in a conventional car. The Tesla takes a standard seven-pin four-way adapter, which, when connected, allows the Model Y to automatically default to towing mode.
Some functions, like Autopilot and Autosteer, are disabled, but Tesla Canuck mentions that you could still feel the instant torque an electric vehicle churns out. The brake regeneration also worked like a charm, with no issues coming to a dead stop. The Model Y also rode well and swayed less due to its low center of gravity.