All manufacturers recommend only one way to tow these vehicles so that no damage to the drive system occurs
The electric car has the great advantage that its mechanics are simple and require less maintenance. However, it, like any other vehicle, can have defects or suffer damage that will require it to be towed or towed. How to proceed with this?
Unlike a combustion vehicle, the electric car does not have a transmission connecting the engine to the wheels. That is why manufacturers recommend not towing with the ground drive wheels, as this damages the engine.
SEE ALSO:
But does that mean that a front-wheel drive electric car can be towed with the rear wheels on the ground? We consulted the manuals of the best-selling electric cars in Brazil in all of which recommend only taking the car on a platform, without the wheels on the ground.
Manufacturers are emphatic in their manuals about the correct method of towing electric cars. Everyone recommends doing this only by a professional and the car must be taken on a platform.
Chevrolet also indicates towing the Spark EUV by suspending the front wheels and placing skids under the rear wheels. But never with the tires in contact with the ground.
In the manuals they point out that towing with the wheels on the ground can damage the engine and other components of the traction system. It is important to remember that electric cars do not have a gearbox, only a reduction and the wheels are connected directly to the engine.
The recommendations above are for cases of damage, accidents, lack of cargo and transport in general, where it is necessary to remove the vehicle to another location. In situations without damage, such as when the car gets stuck, it is possible to push or pull it with another vehicle.
But it is necessary to take some precautions first. The first is to install the tow hook in the proper place, the part comes in the emergency kit and the attachment points are on the two bumpers.
To push the car, it is also necessary to place the gearbox in the neutral position (N), which lets the wheels spin freely without interference from the engine. For this it needs to be turned on.
In the manual of the GWM Ora 03 they indicate that the car can only be towed like this for up to 50 meters and without exceeding 5 km/h. Geely also has this recommendation for the EX2 and even indicates activating the “Towing Mode” in the multimedia center.
These recommendations also apply to plug-in hybrid cars, especially those that have an axle with exclusively electric traction such as the GWM Haval H6 PHEV 35. Although the traction motor does not require periodic maintenance, damaging one can be much more expensive than calling the winch.
