Can You Tow an Electric Car? What EV Owners in Durham Need to Know

Durham and the Research Triangle have one of the fastest-growing EV populations in North Carolina. Teslas, Rivians, Ford Mustang Mach-Es, Hyundai Ioniqs: they're everywhere from Ninth Street to RTP parking decks. But when an electric vehicle breaks down or runs out of charge, a lot of owners (and even some tow operators) don't realize that EVs have strict towing requirements. Getting it wrong can cause thousands of dollars in damage.

The Short Answer: EVs Need a Flatbed. Always.

Nearly every electric vehicle manufacturer, including Tesla, requires flatbed transport with all four wheels off the ground. Here's why: in most EVs, the wheels are directly connected to the electric motors. There's no neutral gear that fully disconnects them the way a gas car's transmission can. When the wheels spin, the motors spin, and spinning motors generate electricity whether the car is on or off.

Towing an EV with two wheels rolling on the pavement forces the motors to generate uncontrolled current, which can overheat the motors, damage the inverter, and in extreme cases create a fire risk. Manufacturers are explicit about this: dragging an EV on its wheels can void your warranty and total your drivetrain.

What About Tesla's Tow Mode?

Teslas and many other EVs have a Transport Mode or Tow Mode in the settings menu. This mode disengages the parking brake and keeps the vehicle free-rolling so it can be winched slowly onto a flatbed. That's all it's for: loading. It does not make the car safe to pull down the highway on its wheels. Activate it when the flatbed arrives, then let the operator winch the car up the deck.

Ran Out of Charge in Durham? Here's the Reality

Unlike running out of gas, there's no jerrycan equivalent for an EV. Mobile charging trucks exist in some big markets, but the practical answer in the Triangle is a flatbed ride to the nearest charger. The good news: Durham has plenty of fast-charging options, including Superchargers and public DC fast chargers near Southpoint, downtown, and RTP. A short flatbed hop to a charger is usually a quick, inexpensive job.

• Don't run the battery to zero and keep trying to restart it; deep-draining a traction battery can harm it
• Turn off climate control and accessories to preserve the 12-volt system while you wait
• Know your destination: tell the dispatcher which charger or home address you want the car taken to
• If the car dies completely, the electronic parking brake may lock; mention this on the phone so the driver brings the right gear

The Other EV Gotcha: the 12-Volt Battery

Surprise: almost every EV also has a regular 12-volt battery that runs the computers, locks, and screens. When it dies, the car acts completely dead even if the big traction battery is full. These small batteries fail just like gas car batteries, and Durham summer heat accelerates it. Often a simple jump pack on the 12-volt system wakes the car right up. It's worth asking about before assuming you need a tow.

What Bull City Towing Does Differently for EVs

Every EV tow we run goes on a flatbed, full stop. Our drivers know how to activate transport modes, work around dead 12-volt systems, and load low-clearance vehicles without scraping. Whether it's a Tesla at a Supercharger that won't wake up, a dead Mach-E in a South Durham driveway, or an out-of-charge Ioniq on I-40, we get it moved the way the manufacturer intended.