Can an electric vehicle handle serious towing?
A very important question for Land Rover drivers who are thinking of converting their Landy to Tesla power.
With more electric drivetrains hitting the road, EVs are proving they’re up for the challenge. Let’s break down how electric Land Rover conversions measure up to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) models by looking at real-world towing power and performance.
Towing in the Real World
Land Rover owners count on their vehicles to handle difficult duties like hauling cattle, pulling equipment, and moving other vehicles. The Defender has long been considered the industry standard for heavy-duty towing. Many drivers are beginning to question if electric drivetrains can manage heavy-duty towing as more make the move to electric.
The short answer is YES! They can, and in fact, they often do it better than traditional engines.
How Electric Power Stacks Up
One of the key strengths of EV-converted Land Rovers is their instant torque. An electric motor is comparable to the more well-known Land Rover engines in the following ways:
- Tesla Model 3 rear motor: 420 Nm torque, 239 kW (325 hp)
- TD5: 300 Nm torque, 120 hp
- TDCI: 400 Nm torque, 150 hp
- 200/300TDI: 266 Nm torque, 111 hp
- 2.25L Petrol/Diesel: 100 Nm torque, 70 hp
The electric motor of a Tesla Model 3 immediately outperforms these engines in terms of horsepower and torque. Because electric motors give power instantly, hauling large weights is significantly simpler, especially over challenging terrain. When regulating power on inclines, electric drivetrains eliminate the need for gear shifting, which is a drawback of conventional engines.
Range When Towing
When towing with an EV, the battery tends to drain faster compared to normal driving. A range loss of roughly 40% is to be expected while towing large loads. A 300-mile-range Tesla Model 3 may only go about 180 miles when fully loaded. For most chores, especially for people who must pull locally rather than across great distances, that may seem like a significant drop, but it still has plenty of range.
This efficiency decline is not just limited to electric cars alone. The miles per gallon of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles is also reduced because they use more gasoline when towing. No matter what kind of fuel the car uses, towing strains the drivetrain, which eventually lowers range and fuel efficiency.
Single Gear
Electric vehicles are simple, there’s no need for a multi-gear system. Traditional Land Rovers have transfer boxes with high and low ratios to manage power when towing. But electric drivetrains use a single-speed transmission, making them more efficient.
Plus, with fewer moving parts, there’s less to maintain. Therefore, it is a win-win for those who do a lot of heavy towing.
A Gap in the UK Market
The UK has not yet caught up to the US, where the electric pickup truck market is flourishing because of vehicles like the Ford F-150 Lightning and Tesla Cybertruck. UK consumers searching for electric trucks with the capacity to tow large loads have fewer options.
That’s where our electric Land Rover conversions come into play.
These EV Land Rover conversions bridge the gap, giving our customers a powerful vehicle that handles tough towing tasks without the need for a gas engine.
Final Thoughts
Electric drivetrains are more than capable of handling heavy-duty towing. Our electric Land Rover conversions maintain efficiency and minimum maintenance while providing all the torque, power, and dependability of a conventional Land Rover. Our EV conversions may therefore be the ideal choice for you if you’re searching for a clever, environmentally responsible way to handle your towing requirements. To find out more about how our electric Land Rovers can simplify your towing tasks, contact us.