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When most people think of towing, they picture a heavy-duty pickup or a big SUV with a roaring engine, because rarely would anyone think an electric crossover like the Tesla Model Y would be in the picture. But EV owners are experimenting with towing all kinds of trailers, boats, or campers—and many are learning some interesting things along the way. That’s why today, Jacob Park’s experience in the “Tesla Model Y” Facebook group stood out to me. His move from Pennsylvania to Texas, during which he towed a small, enclosed U-Haul trailer with his Model Y, perfectly captured the trade-offs you face when towing with an EV.
Here’s how we put it: “Moved from PA to TX… Efficiency is terrible when towing but power is WAY better than anything I’ve towed with (I’ve towed with 5 different vehicles). I’d recommend a long trip ONLY if you are in a pinch. For short hauls around town, it’s actually really good. Just gotta be a bit creative if you need to hit a supercharger. I was followed by a cybertruck the whole way.”
Towing Efficiency Tanks in an EV
After reading Jacob’s experience, it didn’t take long for other owners to jump in with their own insights and tips, which built a thread that mixed personal stories with practical advice.
Nicole kept it blunt: “Efficiency is crap when roadtripping period. This is a commuter car meant for frequent stops and traffic. Still love it though!” That statement touches on something a lot of what new EV owners discover: long-distance towing with an electric car often means frequent charging stops and careful route planning. Even without towing, the Model Y is at its best in stop-and-go driving, where regenerative braking recaptures energy.
Anthony Metzidis took a more technical angle, estimating Jacob’s energy use from his screenshot: “So based on your screenshot, I’m estimating 573 Wh/mi. That’s high. You seem to be driving 70mph — way too fast. If you do 55mph you can probably get down to 400Wh/mi, which would give you about 200mi range at 100%.” His advice on reducing highway speed when towing with an electric vehicle points to one of the most effective ways to stretch range. That’s because just as in a gas car, aerodynamic drag increases exponentially with speed, but the effect is much more noticeable when you have limited stored energy.
Tom Reingold added on another important piece of context: “Yup. An ICE vehicle has a lot of excess power which is one reason for its low efficiency. With an EV, the energy has to come from somewhere, so you’ll see a really big increase in consumption. It’s good to know in case there is a lot of hauling to do.” It makes sense what Tom is trying to say here. Internal combustion engines typically operate at low efficiency most of the time, so adding a trailer doesn’t change their fuel economy as dramatically. Electric motors are highly efficient in normal driving, but that means any extra load makes a bigger relative dent in range.
Long-Haul Towing Reality Check
Jacob’s description of having to be “creative” with Supercharger stops really shows one of the bigger challenges you run into. Finding chargers that are actually easy to access when you’re towing could be easily overlooked. Many charging stations aren’t designed for vehicles with trailers, forcing drivers to unhitch or park awkwardly across spaces. In a pinch, this can add significant time and frustration to an already slow process.
The reduced range when towing with a Tesla Model Y also changes how you plan each leg of the trip. If you’re getting under 600 Wh/mi, your effective range could be cut to a third of what you’d see in normal driving. That means instead of stopping every 200-250 miles, you might need to stop every 90-120 miles. For someone moving across states, that’s a ton of downtime.
But I have to say, Jacob’s praise for the Model Y’s towing power isn’t something to gloss over. Instant torque makes pulling away from stops and merging onto highways a breeze, even if this isn’t some serious looking amount of weight. It’s an area where EVs could actually outperform gas-powered tow vehicles in terms of feel and responsiveness.
The Broader EV Towing Conversation
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This also isn’t the first time an EV owner has raised eyebrows over towing efficiency. In fact, towing is often where expectations set by EPA range numbers meet real-world realities. A few months ago, I wrote on another Tesla owner who ended up spending over $700 on Supercharging in just two weeks of work use. Their experience reinforced the fact that long-distance road trips in an EV without home charging can add up quickly.
It also ties into a bigger shift I’ve noticed among Tesla owners. Many are becoming more selective about when and how they use their EV for certain trips. Just because a Model Y can tow doesn’t mean that it’s always the most practical choice for the job. Sometimes, it’s the ideal tool for a short and local haul as mentioned in the comments. And other times, a vehicle’s primary strengths lie outside of towing entirely.
The Triple Hit on Efficiency
Three main factors are at play when towing with any car: the weight of the trailer, the aerodynamic drag it creates, and your driving speed. With a compact, enclosed trailer like Jacob’s, drag can actually be a bigger factor than weight. Even a relatively light trailer can present a large and flat surface to the wind, forcing the vehicle to work harder to maintain speed.
This is where I think Anthony’s suggestion of slowing to 55 mph really shines. The drop in aerodynamic resistance at lower speeds can yield a disproportionate gain in efficiency, which might mean one less charging stop per day. For Tesla Model Y owners planning a long-distance towing trip, that’s a huge improvement—and it’s something newer models like the 2026 Tesla Model Y Juniper RWD, which already sees 10% better efficiency, could benefit from even more.
But in the end, what stands out most to me is how the in-between space of so many EV towing experiences is captured here. It’s not just a matter of “it works” or “it doesn’t,” because the nuances in how well an EV performs in certain situations matter.
I can see a future where pull-through chargers and faster charging make trips like this far less complicated, but for now, it’s about understanding what your vehicle excels at and where it asks you to compromise. If you can work with that, the Model Y can certainly surprise you.
Key Takeaways
- Know your mission before you hook up a trailer. Short-distance towing with a Tesla Model Y can be efficient and enjoyable; long-haul towing will require significant planning and patience.
- Speed is your enemy when towing with an EV. Slowing down even 10-15 mph on the highway can extend range enough to skip an extra charging stop.
- Charging infrastructure matters more than you think. If you can’t find pull-through chargers, be prepared to unhitch or block spaces.
- Factor in your total trip cost, not just the electricity bill. Time spent charging, potential detours, and even overnight stays all impact the real cost of a towing trip.
Your Opinion Matters
Have you ever used a Tesla Model Y or another EV to tow? What kind of range and charging experience did you have?
And for those who haven’t tried with their EV’s, what are some of the things that worry you?
I’d love to hear about your experience, so don’t hesitate to share in our comments below.
Aram Krajekian is a young automotive journalist bringing a fresh perspective to his coverage of the evolving automotive landscape. Follow Aram on X and LinkedIn for daily news coverage about cars.
Image Sources: The “Tesla Model Y” public Facebook group.
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Source: torquenews.com
