[ref http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/Towing-4-wheels-down-Spark-EV-or-Leaf-tp4684633.html >Mark Hanson via EV Fri, 25 Nov 2016 16:52:54 -0800 I know the operator manuals on my Leaf and Spark EV say they can't be towed with 4 wheels down but why not can't you just put it in neutral or disconnect the motor wires? On all my conversions I've had no problems towing wheels down. Both say to use a tow dolly< ] ... (corrections & comments requested)
For the layman, the four towing methods are: -tow truck (expensive): can be 2 wheels down, but usually as soon as you mention an Electric, they send out a flat bed tow truck, so 0 wheels down -rent a flat bed trailer, 0 wheels down (see link below about rental agent lies/horror stories) -rent a tow dolly, 2 wheels down -tow bar use, 4 wheels down Searches on Leaf and iMiev EV towing gave some good links to explore: https://www.google.com/search?q=tow+leaf+electric tow leaf electric https://www.google.com/search?q=tow+imiev+electric tow imiev electric A search on Spark EV towing ... not so much: https://www.google.com/search?q=tow+Spark+EV tow Spark EV >David Nelson via EV Fri, 25 Nov 2016 22:04:51 -0800 How about when towing behind an RV? I don't see that it would be very hard to program in an in-tow mode for EVs. The drivetrain could be monitored and cooling could begin as needed. Also, the OBC could be enabled so that those RVs with some form of AC on board could at a minimum supply all the energy to keep the main EV battery and the 12V battery charged up.< I agree with David, automakers ought to offer a 4wheels-down tow mode for when using a tow bar, as in 4-wheels-down. But automakers are slow in wanting to understand driver's actual needs (they think they know best in all cases, but they do not drive Electric like we do). I can only suggest that you send a message to each automaker for the EV(s) own, and also talk it up on those particular EV forums. Hopefully, there are some automaker lurkers on them that will eventually read & pick up on our EV-driving needs. I am thinking that a production EV set in 4wheels-down tow mode via either the dash console or via a phone app, would allow a mild regen (no more than 3kW), enough to power the EV and put a slow charge on the EV's pack. How much regen would be adjustable. The EV would be on enough to protect its self for this type of travel, but not on enough to steal. And there would be a sleep option: after 8 hour the EV would shutdown, when turned back on, it would remind the driver either via the console or the app that the EV was in 4wheels-down tow mode and ask if they want to continue, etc. Here some other links to explore: http://www.gmtruckclub.com/forum/threads/u-haul-wont-rent-me-a-tow-dolly.35013/ (related) u-haul wont rent me a tow dolly https://www.google.com/search?q=Build+Your+Own+Tow+Dolly Build Your Own Tow Dolly For EVLN EV-newswire posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ {brucedp.0catch.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/Towing-4-wheels-down-Spark-EV-or-Leaf-tp4684633p4684645.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
