Why towing an EV is different
In a petrol or diesel car, the wheels can usually turn freely when the engine is off. In many electric cars, the motor is connected to the drive wheels. Pulling the car along with those wheels on the ground can spin the motor and damage it.
Some cars even generate electricity as they roll, which isn't something their makers want when the system is faulty. This is general advice, and it varies a lot from car to car.
This is general advice and it varies a lot from car to car. Some can be towed a short way with the right mode switched on, and others can't be towed at all.
The handbook is the final word
Your handbook will tell you whether your car can be towed, and how. Some cars have a tow or transport mode that frees the wheels, and some manufacturers say never to tow at all. If the handbook says flatbed only, take it at its word.
Also worth checking is your insurance or breakdown policy. It may say who you must use and what's covered.
If you can't find the handbook, look for a copy online using your make, model and year, or ask a main dealer. Don't guess.
Some manufacturers also restrict towing for cars with a flat battery, because the parking brake or gear selector may not release. Another reason to read the book before anyone touches the car.
What a flatbed means
A flatbed is a recovery truck with a flat platform. The car is winched on and carried with all four wheels off the ground. For most electric cars, this is the usual and safest way to move one that can't drive.
A recovery operator should know how to load an electric car. If you're unsure, ask them if they've done it before.
When a charge on the spot is simpler
If your car has stopped only because the battery is flat, and nothing else is wrong, there may be no need to move it at all. A small top-up where you've stopped can be enough to get you to a rapid charger under your own power.
That can be quicker and less awkward than waiting for a recovery truck. If a warning light is showing for something other than the battery, or the car won't power up after a charge, recovery is the right call.
What we do and don't do
We only do mobile charging. We don't tow or recover cars, and we don't do repairs. If your car needs transporting, we'll say so honestly on the phone. If it's just flat, ring us and tell us where you are.
If the car won't respond even to a charge, or a warning light shows something other than the battery, that is a job for a garage or a recovery operator, and we'll tell you so.
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