If you drive an EV and it ever needs a tow, you’ll likely hear the same instruction every time: it has to go on a flatbed, wheels off the ground, no exceptions. That’s not an arbitrary preference. It comes down to how an electric motor is built, and what happens when its wheels are forced to turn while the vehicle’s systems are powered down.
The Core Problem: Regenerative Braking Has No “Off” Switch
Every electric vehicle uses regenerative braking, a system that turns the electric motor into a generator when you lift off the accelerator or brake, converting the car’s motion back into electricity to help recharge the battery. It’s one of the genuinely clever parts of EV design.
The catch: unlike a gas engine, an EV’s electric motor stays mechanically connected to the wheels even when the car is off, because there’s no traditional neutral gear that fully disconnects the drivetrain the way a combustion engine’s transmission does. So if the wheels are forced to spin (like they would if towed with all four wheels on the ground), the motor spins with them. And a spinning motor with nowhere to send its output can start generating voltage and feeding it back into a high-voltage system that isn’t awake to safely handle it.
What Can Actually Go Wrong
This isn’t a minor inconvenience. The potential damage is specific and expensive:
- Motor and inverter damage. The vehicle may show no immediate warning after being towed incorrectly, only to develop electrical or thermal problems later, making the cause hard to trace back to the tow.
- Battery pack stress. Unintended current generated during towing can push back into the battery pack, causing it to heat up or trip internal safety protections. In serious cases, this can blow high-voltage fuses or lock up battery modules entirely.
- Warranty issues. Most EV manufacturers explicitly require flatbed towing in their owner’s manuals. Towing an EV incorrectly can be treated as vehicle misuse, which may affect a warranty claim for drivetrain or battery problems down the line, even if the towing itself happened months before an issue shows up.
None of this requires a long tow, either. Even a short distance with the wheels turning is enough to create risk, which is why “just a few blocks” isn’t treated as a safe exception.
Why All-Wheel-Drive EVs Make This Even More Important
Many EVs use dual motors (one on the front axle, one on the rear) for all-wheel drive. That means both axles are connected to a motor, not just one, so there’s no “safe” end of the car to leave on the ground the way you sometimes could with certain two-wheel-drive gas vehicles. For most EVs, all four wheels need to be off the ground, full stop, which is exactly what flatbed transport provides and a standard wheel-lift tow truck cannot.
It’s Not Just the Motor: Parking Brakes Matter Too
There’s a second, less-discussed issue: many EVs use an electronic parking brake rather than a traditional mechanical one. If a vehicle’s 12-volt battery is dead (a common reason for needing a tow in the first place), that electronic parking brake may not release the normal way. An operator unfamiliar with EVs can end up dragging a vehicle with the parking brake still partially engaged, leading to burned brake pads, overheated calipers, or a damaged brake actuator, separate from the motor issue, but just as avoidable with the right equipment and know-how.
Why Flatbed Towing Solves All of This at Once
Flatbed towing removes the entire problem by keeping all four wheels completely off the road surface. If the wheels aren’t turning, the motor isn’t spinning, there’s no unintended electricity generation, and there’s no risk to the battery or drivetrain, regardless of whether it’s a two-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive EV, and regardless of what’s happening with the parking brake. It’s the one method that works safely across every EV, rather than depending on knowing the specific quirks of each model.
What This Means If Your EV Needs a Tow
If your electric vehicle breaks down, stalls, or won’t start, the safest call is a towing company that already tows EVs on flatbeds as standard practice, not one that treats it as a special request or, worse, isn’t aware of the risk at all. Given the cost of motor and battery repairs, this is one situation where the right equipment isn’t optional.
If Your EV Runs Out of Charge
An electric car with an empty battery can’t be topped up from a can, so it usually needs a tow to a charger or to your home. When you call, tell us where you’d like it to go: your home charger, a public charging station or a dealer.
EVs also have a small 12-volt battery that runs the lights, locks and computers. If that one dies, the car may not turn on even with plenty of range. Many EVs allow a jump start of the 12-volt battery, but check your owner’s manual first, and never try to jump the main high-voltage battery.
Tow Mode and Transport Mode
Many EVs have a tow mode or transport mode that releases the parking brake so the car can roll onto a flatbed. How you turn it on is different for every brand, and it usually needs the car to have some 12-volt power. If you know how to switch it on, tell the driver. If the car is completely dead, the driver will use other ways to load it safely.
What to Tell Us When You Call
- The year, make and model, and whether it’s all-wheel drive
- Roughly how much charge is left, and whether the car powers on
- Whether you can put it in tow or transport mode
- Where the key, key card or phone key is
- Where the car should go: home, a charger or a dealer
What About Hybrids and Plug-In Hybrids?
Many hybrids and plug-in hybrids also have an electric motor connected to the wheels, so the same problems can apply. Most manufacturers recommend a flatbed for them too. Check the towing section of your owner’s manual, and tell the dispatcher it’s a hybrid when you call.
Charging After the Tow
If your EV ran out of charge, plan where it will charge next. A tow straight to your home charger is often the simplest choice. If you don’t have one, a public charger or the dealer may be better. Tell us the destination when you call, and make sure the charger there works with your car.
Don’t Tow an EV on Its Wheels, Even for a Short Distance
It can be tempting to have an EV pulled just a short way with its wheels on the ground, or to push it with another car. Even a short distance can make the motor generate electricity and heat up. Unless your owner’s manual clearly says it’s safe, keep all four wheels off the road and use a flatbed.
Need EV Towing in Bridgeport?
Elon Heavy Duty Towing uses flatbed transport for all passenger vehicles, including EVs, protecting your car’s motor, battery, and drivetrain from the risks of an improper tow. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, throughout Bridgeport and Fairfield County.