Towing with a Chinese EV: Ratings, Range Loss & What Works

Towing with a Chinese EV: Ratings, Range Loss & What Works

You just bought a shiny new Chinese EV. It's quiet, it's efficient, it's cheaper than anything else on the lot. And now you're standing in your driveway wondering: can I tow my cottage trailer with this thing? I'm going to give you the honest answer, and for some of you, it's not the answer you want.

Let's Be Upfront About This

I get this question more than almost any other. Canadians love towing. We tow boats to the lake, trailers to the cottage, campers to provincial parks, and utility trailers to the dump on Saturday mornings. Towing isn't a niche use case in this country; it's a lifestyle.

So here's the uncomfortable truth: most Chinese EVs arriving in Canada right now are not built for serious towing. They're compact cars, hatchbacks, and small crossovers designed for urban and suburban driving. If you're looking for something to haul a 25-foot travel trailer to Algonquin Park, a BYD Dolphin is not your vehicle. That's not a knock on the car; it's just physics and engineering priorities.

But "not great for serious towing" doesn't mean "useless for any towing." There's a wide spectrum between pulling a 3,000 kg fifth-wheel and strapping a bike rack to the hitch. And some Chinese EVs can handle the lighter end of that spectrum just fine.

Let me break it all down.

Tow Ratings: Where Chinese EVs Actually Stand

First, the numbers. Here's what the current and incoming Chinese EVs are rated for, compared to the established EV towing players:

Chinese EVs

For Comparison: Established EV Towers

The gap is obvious. The best Chinese EV for towing, the Zeekr 001 at 1,500 kg, matches a Model Y. That's respectable. But nothing in the current Chinese EV lineup comes close to a Rivian or Lightning for the kind of serious towing that a lot of Canadian truck owners take for granted.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone. I'm trying to save you from hooking up a loaded boat trailer to a Dolphin and having a really bad day on the highway.

The Physics: Why EVs Lose So Much Range When Towing

Before I get into specific scenarios, you need to understand why towing hammers EV range so brutally. It's not a Chinese EV problem; it's an EV problem, period. Tesla, Rivian, everyone. Towing range loss is the dirty secret of the entire EV industry.

Here's what's happening:

Weight

Your battery is sized for the weight of the car. Add a 750 kg trailer and you've increased the total mass the motor has to push by 30–50%, depending on the vehicle. More mass means more energy per kilometre. Simple physics.

Aerodynamic Drag

This is the big one, and it's worse than most people expect. At highway speeds, aerodynamic drag is the dominant force your motor fights. A box trailer behind your car is essentially a giant parachute. The drag coefficient of an EV towing a boxy trailer can be 2 to 3 times higher than the car alone. And drag force scales with the square of speed, so going 110 km/h instead of 90 km/h doesn't cost 22% more energy, it costs roughly 50% more.

That's why you'll see towing range advice that says "slow down." It's not a suggestion; it's the single most impactful thing you can do.

No Gear Ratios to Help

Internal combustion vehicles have multi-speed transmissions that let the engine stay in an efficient RPM band regardless of load. Most EVs have a single-speed reduction gear. That's fine for normal driving, electric motors produce torque across the full RPM range, but it means the motor can't downshift to a more efficient operating point when under heavy sustained load at highway speed. It just draws more current, which means more heat and more battery drain.

Regenerative Braking Is Less Helpful

Regen braking is one of an EV's efficiency superpowers in normal driving. Stop-and-go traffic, hilly terrain, the motor recovers energy every time you slow down. But towing is predominantly sustained highway driving with minimal braking. Your regen system sits idle while the motor works overtime. The efficiency advantage that makes EVs so good in city driving largely disappears on a highway tow.

The Bottom Line on Physics

All of this adds up to a range penalty of 40–60% when towing, depending on trailer weight, shape, speed, and terrain. That's not a Chinese EV number; that's an EV number. A Rivian R1S with 500 km of range becomes a 200–300 km vehicle when towing. A Zeekr 001 with 500 km of real-world range becomes a 200–300 km vehicle too. The math is unforgiving for everyone.

Real-World Scenarios: What Can You Actually Tow?

Alright, enough theory. Let's talk about what Canadians actually want to do with a tow hitch.

Scenario 1: Bike Rack or Cargo Carrier (Under 50 kg)

Verdict: No problem at all.

A hitch-mounted bike rack or cargo carrier adds minimal weight and relatively little aerodynamic penalty (especially a platform-style bike rack). Range impact is negligible, maybe 5–10%. Any Chinese EV with a hitch receiver can handle this, and you shouldn't think twice about it.

Even the BYD Atto 3 or Chery Omoda E5 with a 750 kg tow rating and aftermarket hitch will be totally fine here. This is the kind of "towing" that most EV owners will actually do, and it's a non-issue.

Scenario 2: Small Utility Trailer (300–500 kg Loaded)

Verdict: Workable for the rated models.

A small utility trailer loaded with lumber from Home Depot, a lawnmower for the cottage, or moving boxes. You're looking at roughly 300–500 kg gross. The Atto 3 and Omoda E5 (both rated around 750 kg) can handle this within their specs.

Expect about 30–40% range loss. On a 420 km rated car like the Atto 3, that puts your real-world towing range at roughly 180–250 km. That's enough for a Saturday dump run or a short haul, but you'll want to plan carefully for anything over an hour on the highway.

The Zeekr 001, with its 1,500 kg rating and much larger battery, handles this scenario comfortably. You'll still lose range, but starting from 500 km of real-world range means you've got 250–350 km to work with. That's a genuine cottage trip distance for many Ontarians.

Scenario 3: Small Boat or Personal Watercraft (500–1,000 kg Total)

Verdict: Zeekr 001 only, and plan your route.

A small fishing boat on a trailer or a personal watercraft typically weighs 500–1,000 kg combined. This is over the limit for the Atto 3 and Omoda E5, but the Zeekr 001 at 1,500 kg can handle it.

Here's where it gets real though. Expect 40–50% range loss with a boat trailer, they're not aerodynamic, and the combined weight is substantial. Your 500 km Zeekr 001 becomes a 250–300 km vehicle. If the boat launch is 150 km away, you can make it there and back with a comfortable margin. If it's 250 km away, you're charging somewhere on the route.

I'd absolutely do this for a weekend at a lake within a couple hours' drive. Would I tow a boat from Toronto to Muskoka in a Zeekr 001? Yes, actually; it's about 200 km, and even with 40% range loss, the math works. Toronto to Parry Sound? Getting tight. Toronto to Huntsville? You're stopping to charge.

Scenario 4: Cottage Trailer / Small Camper (1,000–1,500 kg)

Verdict: At the absolute limit of what's possible, Zeekr 001 only.

A lightweight teardrop camper or a small pop-up trailer in the 1,000–1,500 kg range technically falls within the Zeekr 001's tow rating. But I want to be honest here: you're maxing out the vehicle's capability, and the range penalty is going to be brutal.

At 1,500 kg of trailer, expect 50–60% range loss. That 500 km of real-world range becomes 200–250 km. You are now stopping to DC fast charge every 150–200 km, and each charge stop with a trailer is a logistical challenge (not every charging station can accommodate a vehicle with a trailer attached.)

Can you do it? Technically yes. Would I recommend it as a regular thing? Honestly, no. If you're towing a camper every other weekend all summer, the Zeekr 001 will do it, but you're going to spend a lot of time planning routes, finding charger-friendly pull-through spots, and managing range anxiety. A gas vehicle or a purpose-built EV truck would be significantly less stressful.

Scenario 5: Full-Size Travel Trailer (2,000+ kg)

Verdict: Not with any Chinese EV currently available in Canada.

No Chinese EV on or near the Canadian market today can safely tow a full-size travel trailer. The Zeekr 001's 1,500 kg limit rules it out, and nothing else comes close. If this is your use case, you need a Rivian R1S, a Ford F-150 Lightning, a Tesla Model X, or, let's be real, a gas truck.

This will change. Larger Chinese SUVs like the BYD Tang (which has a 2,000 kg tow rating in overseas markets) or potential future Zeekr models could crack this market. But as of 2026, this is a gap.

Canadian-Specific Considerations

Towing in Canada comes with its own set of challenges that make the EV range penalty even more significant.

Cottage Country Distances

The classic Ontario cottage run, Toronto to Muskoka, Ottawa to the Laurentians, Vancouver to the Okanagan, typically falls in the 150–300 km range. For light towing (bike rack, small utility trailer), most rated Chinese EVs can handle this on a single charge. For heavier loads, you're looking at one charging stop, which is manageable if you plan ahead.

Quebec cottage country (Laurentians, Eastern Townships) tends to be closer to urban centres, which actually works in the EV towing math's favour. A 100 km tow is very doable in any rated vehicle.

Boat Launch Logistics

Here's something nobody talks about: backing a boat trailer into a launch while managing an EV's creep settings and regenerative braking takes some practice. The low-speed torque of an EV is actually fantastic for pulling a boat up a steep launch ramp, better than most gas vehicles, honestly. But the precision required for backing down a wet ramp is different in an EV. Practice in an empty parking lot first.

Also, many boat launches and cottage-country charging stations are not set up for vehicles towing trailers. Pull-through charging spots are rare. You might need to unhitch the trailer to charge, which adds time and hassle. Check PlugShare for user reviews that mention trailer accessibility.

Winter Towing: Just Don't

I need to say this plainly: do not plan to tow with a Chinese EV in Canadian winter conditions. The combination of cold-weather range loss (30–40% on its own, as we covered in our Winter Range Guide) plus towing range loss (40–60%) means you could be looking at a total effective range that's 30–40% of your rated number.

A Zeekr 001 with 590 km rated range, in -20 C, towing a 1,000 kg trailer? You might get 150–200 km. That's not enough for most practical towing trips, and it leaves zero safety margin for detours, traffic, or a broken charger.

Summer towing with an EV is an adventure. Winter towing with an EV is a risk I don't think is worth taking right now.

Tips for Towing with an EV

If you've read this far and you're still in, great. Here's how to make EV towing work.

1. Slow Down

I cannot emphasize this enough. Dropping from 110 km/h to 90 km/h while towing can improve your range by 15–25%. Aerodynamic drag is your biggest enemy, and speed is its best friend. Yes, you'll get passed by trucks. Yes, it'll take longer. But you'll arrive without a tow truck.

2. Plan Your Route Religiously

Use A Better Route Planner (ABRP) and set it to "towing mode" with your trailer weight. It'll adjust energy consumption estimates and plan charging stops accordingly. Don't wing it. Ever.

3. Charge More Often, Charge Shorter

Instead of charging from 10% to 90%, consider charging from 20% to 70% at each stop. You'll spend less time at each charger (charging speed drops significantly above 80%) and maintain a safer buffer. More frequent short stops beat fewer long stops when towing.

4. Check Charger Accessibility for Trailers

Before you leave, check every planned charging stop on PlugShare for trailer-friendliness. Look for pull-through spots or easy unhitch areas. There is nothing worse than arriving at a charger and realizing you can't fit your rig into the charging bay. Some Petro-Canada locations along the Trans-Canada are better for this, they're at gas stations with more room to manoeuvre.

5. Reduce Trailer Drag

If you're towing a box trailer or camper, close all windows and vents. If your trailer has an aerodynamic nose cone option, get it. For open utility trailers, a mesh cover is better than a solid cover (reduces the sail effect), and keeping the load low reduces the frontal area catching wind.

6. Pre-condition the Battery

Before a long tow, pre-condition your battery to the optimal temperature range while still plugged in. A warm battery accepts charge faster and delivers energy more efficiently. This matters more in spring and fall when temperatures hover around the less-efficient zone.

7. Have a Backup Plan

Always know where the next charger after your planned stop is, in case your primary charger is down. And carry a Level 2 portable charger, at campgrounds with RV hookups or cottages with dryer outlets, you can pick up 30–40 km of range per hour overnight. It's slow, but it turns a "stranded" scenario into a "delayed" scenario.

Which Chinese EVs Are Actually Usable for Towing?

Let me make this simple.

The Zeekr 001: Your Best Option

The Zeekr 001 is the only Chinese EV I'd currently recommend for regular towing in Canada. At 1,500 kg braked tow capacity, a 100 kWh battery, and 200 kW DC fast charging, it has the specs to handle light-to-medium towing duties. It's not a truck. It's not a Rivian. But for a small boat, a utility trailer, or a lightweight camper for summer cottage trips, the 001 is genuinely usable.

The shooting brake body style is actually an advantage here, the long roofline and fastback shape are more aerodynamic than a boxy SUV, which helps mitigate some of the drag penalty from a trailer. And the 100 kWh battery gives you enough range buffer that a 40–50% towing penalty still leaves you with a workable 250–300 km.

If towing is even a secondary consideration in your purchase, the Zeekr 001 is the Chinese EV to buy.

The BYD Atto 3 and Chery Omoda E5: Light Duty Only

The BYD Atto 3 and Chery Omoda E5, both rated around 750 kg, can handle a hitch-mounted bike rack, a small utility trailer, or a very light enclosed trailer. But with their ~60 kWh batteries, the range math gets tight quickly. These are "tow a small trailer to the dump and back" vehicles, not "tow anything on the highway for two hours" vehicles.

I'd use one for the occasional light haul. I wouldn't buy one because I needed to tow.

Everyone Else: Not for Towing

The BYD Seal, BYD Dolphin, BYD Seagull, MG4, and ORA 03 are not rated for towing and shouldn't be used for it. Some owners in Europe and Australia have fitted aftermarket hitches to Dolphins and MG4s for bike racks, which is fine at low speeds and light loads, but these cars aren't engineered for trailer towing and I wouldn't recommend it.

The Honest Recommendation

If you came to this article hoping I'd tell you that Chinese EVs are great for towing, I'm sorry. In 2026, if serious towing is a priority for you, Chinese EVs aren't the answer yet. The models arriving in Canada are small-to-midsize vehicles optimized for efficiency, urban commuting, and value. That's their strength, and it's a genuine one.

For light duty, bike racks, small utility trailers, the occasional cottage run with a lightweight load, the Zeekr 001 is legitimately usable, and the BYD Atto 3 and Chery Omoda E5 can manage very light loads. That covers more real-world towing scenarios than you might think. Not everyone who owns a tow hitch is pulling a fifth-wheel.

But if you regularly tow a boat, a camper, or a heavy utility trailer, and that's a non-negotiable part of your Canadian lifestyle, the honest answer right now is: look at a Rivian R1S, a Ford F-150 Lightning, a Tesla Model X, or a gas/hybrid truck. Chinese EVs will get there, probably sooner than most people expect, but the 2026 lineup is focused on a different part of the market.

What's Coming: The Towing-Capable Chinese EVs of Tomorrow

The good news is that this article has a shelf life. Larger Chinese EVs with real towing capability are in the pipeline:

• BYD Tang EV: Already sold in some markets with a 2,000 kg tow rating. It's a full-size SUV with an 86.4 kWh battery and AWD. If BYD brings it to Canada, and there are signals they're considering it, it would be the first Chinese EV here with genuinely practical towing specs.
• BYD's pickup truck plans: BYD has shown concept vehicles and is developing an electric pickup for markets like Australia, where towing is just as central to the culture as it is in Canada. A BYD ute entering the Canadian market would change this conversation entirely.
• Zeekr's larger SUV models: Geely/Zeekr has the SEA platform that can scale to larger vehicles. A Zeekr SUV with a 2,000+ kg tow rating on a 100+ kWh battery is technically feasible with existing technology.
• Chery's Tiggo lineup: Larger Chery Tiggo models could bring higher tow ratings when they arrive, though nothing is confirmed for Canada yet.

I'd estimate we're 2 to 3 years away from having a Chinese EV in Canada that can genuinely replace a gas SUV or truck for towing. When it arrives, the combination of low running costs, instant torque for boat ramps, and silent operation at the campsite will make it extremely appealing. We're just not there today.

The Bottom Line

Can you tow with a Chinese EV? Yes, with the right vehicle, the right load, and the right expectations.

Can you replace your Silverado with a BYD for weekend towing? Not yet.

The key is matching the tool to the job. For most Canadians who occasionally tow light loads, a utility trailer, a bike rack, a small boat for a short trip, the Zeekr 001 handles it well, and the Atto 3 manages the very light stuff. For everything heavier, the current Chinese EV lineup is honest about its limits, and so am I.

If you're in the market for a Chinese EV and towing is one of several considerations, the Zeekr 001 is your pick. If towing is your primary consideration, wait a couple of years. Something's coming.

And whatever you do, don't try to tow in January. Your battery will thank you.

Sources & Further Reading

• Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards: towing standards and requirements for vehicles sold in Canada
• Natural Resources Canada: Electric Vehicle Overview: official Canadian EV data
• Norwegian EV Association: EV Towing Tests: real-world towing range data from Norway, the closest climate comparison to Canada
• A Better Route Planner (ABRP): essential route planning tool with towing mode
• PlugShare: charging station reviews including trailer accessibility info

Keep Reading

• Road trip planning, EV Road Trip Can You Cross Canada in a Chinese EV, route planning, charger gaps, and which Chinese EV goes the distance
• Family hauling, Best EVs for Canadian Families, if you need space for kids and gear, not a trailer hitch
• The Atto 3 in detail, BYD Atto 3, full specs, winter analysis, and Canadian pricing for BYD's crossover
• Winter range reality, Winter Range Guide, what cold weather does to range before you even think about towing
• Get notified, Sign up for updates when new models arrive