Electric and hybrid Towing Vehicles.

If I were to buy a car today it would be diesel. A petrol Hybrid holds very little interest for me. An all electric car holds none.

I towed an 1800kg caravan with Lexus RX400h hybrid for over 6 years. Don't get me wrong, it was a lovely car, but the benefits of a hybrid powertrain were only apparent when solo, and even more so with lots of stop/start driving where it proved to be phenomenally economical. However, when towing it used as much petrol as a non-hybrid.

Realistically, towing with an all-electric Tesla only makes sense for relatively short journeys even though reports have shown that it is possible to tow a caravan all the way down to Italy with one, but you do need good nerves when checking the battery charge en route. On the positive side, the Tesla is fitted with a towbar ex-factory as standard.

For the time being I have gone back to a diesel, mainly because I do a fair annual mileage now that I have only one car at my disposal instead of two, and that makes a petrol less attractive.

I'm collecting a 'new to me' car next week. It's a diseasal.

I will be changing my car in the next few months. I have done some research on petrol hybrids, which would be my first chose, but cant fine one that meets my requirements.

I understand the reasons for wanting a diesel as a towcar, but I think the costs of owning and running a diesel will only increase over the coming years. Manchester, close to where I live, is just about to bring in a charge for the most polluting commercial diesels. This is the thin end of the wedge. It won’t be long before this is extended to privately owned vehicles, and I’m sure other cities, both in the UK and abroad will follow suit.

Due to this, and the fact I plan to own my next vehicle for quite a while, and my annual mileage will drop soon I will probably opt for a petrol engine.

Mercedes have just released a new GLE which is available with a “soft Hybrid” 3l petrol engine giving more than enough power and torque, 270+22 hp and 500+250 Nm. But this comes at a not insubstantial cost, OTR price of 62k before options.

I have also seen a couple of decent 2l petrol models, but these only just meet my power and torque requirements

I’m sure other manufactures will follow suit with descent petrol derivatives, but not in the time scale I will be changing my car. A lot seem to have pulled the bigger petrol versions at the moment; maybe to do with emissions and tax, I’m not sure.

 I understand Low emision zones are at the moment designed to make it more expensive to enter with all vehicles that at the moment are  fitted with euro 5 or less engines 

When I was at the Tow Bar shop yesterday he had the details of 2 Mercedes cars on the counter.  Almost identical spec but one was a "green" version and fell under the category of NOT for towing - so as above insurance, warranties etc would be null and void if a tow bar was fitted.  I think I will stick to diesel for the rest of my towing career unless something new appears.  

Just looked at the new Toyota2.5 petrol Rav4 hybrid braked towing 1600kg but the price £33.000 for the 4 wheel drive and £31.000 for the 2 wheel drive. A lot of money for a hybrid. Any body else looked at one.

I will stick with my LC4 Landcruiser.

If you want research into EV’s and the like the ‘club’ is the last place i would ask.... with the best will in the world they do not have the resources or expertise to carry out the level of research required. try Diesel Car magazine which also has a section for EV/alternative fuel cars. However in the real world where most car buyers buy used there are very few hybrids available and as Lutz points out in that same real world hybrid economy isnt actually that great. The Lexus is one of very few options. If buying new i fail to understand why a new latest version of EU 6 compliant diesel is not acceptable given that petrol turbo engines are proving to be almost as bad as diesel for nox, particulates etc.... As for the practicalities of using a pure EV for any distance a recent Autocar feature driving an EV to Edinburgh brought home the shortcomings.... and that was without a caravan in tow.... i am not against EV’s or hybrids but they are being marketed by politicians as a panacea with no understanding of how people actually live and drive. 

For me they would be a waste of time. Our 14 year old tow-car is mainly just that in as such as it is used for holidays with the caravan for 17 or 18 weeks of the year. When home it probably does 80 miles a month which is on motorway and dual carriageway generally. 70 mile of that would be 35 miles each way to see grandkids with no option to conveniently charge any hybrid.

As OH does not wish to drive the tow car we have a 19 year old 1,000cc Yaris and when replaced will probably be with a 3 year old car of similar size. There would be no saving with electric sufficient to offset either the additional purchase cost or installation of a charger as it only covers 1,500 miles a year as neither of us now work. 

Is that cheaper fuel than the normal Diesel.  sorry.