Cary has one of the highest concentrations of electric vehicles in North Carolina, and every week more of them end up needing a tow: out of charge on I-540, a drive-system warning on the way to RTP, a curb strike that cracked a battery tray. Towing an EV is not the same as towing a gas car, and doing it wrong can cause damage that costs more than the car is worth. Here is what electric and hybrid drivers in Cary should know before they ever need to call, and what to expect when they do.
Why EVs must be flatbedded
In a gas car with an automatic transmission, putting it in neutral disconnects the wheels from the engine, and a wheel-lift can tow it a short distance with two wheels rolling. An EV has no such disconnect. The drive wheels are permanently geared to the motor. Roll them, and the motor spins and generates electricity whether the car is “on” or not. With the high-voltage system off, that current has nowhere to go, and the result can be overheated motor windings, damaged inverter electronics or a fried drive unit. Every EV manufacturer says the same thing: transport with all four wheels off the ground.
In practice that means a flatbed, every time. If a tow company shows up with a wheel-lift for your electric car, refuse it.
Getting an EV onto the flatbed
Most EVs have a “transport mode” or “tow mode” in the settings menu that lets the car roll freely for a short distance at walking speed so it can be winched up the ramp. On some models this is buried a few menus deep; on others it is only available while the 12-volt battery has power. Our drivers know where it is on the common models around Cary, and if the car is completely dead we have other ways to move it safely, including wheel dollies or skates that keep the tires off the deck while it is pulled up.
Strapping is different too. EVs are heavy, often 1,000 pounds more than a similar gas car, and the underside is one large battery pack. Straps go over the tires or through the wheels, never around the pack or the frame near it. Tell the driver if the car has been in a collision or if you have any reason to think the battery has been damaged.
Out of charge is not out of gas
There is no equivalent of a gas can. If you run an EV to zero on the Beltline, it needs to be carried to a charger. A few things worth knowing:
- Range estimates drop quickly at highway speed with the air conditioning running in a Cary July. Treat anything under 20 miles as a warning.
- Many EVs keep a small buffer below “zero” and will creep a mile or two at reduced power. Use it to reach a parking lot, not to try for the next charger.
- When you call, tell the dispatcher where you want to charge. A Level 2 charger at home will get you going overnight; a DC fast charger gets you back on the road in under an hour. The driver can deliver you to either.
The 12-volt battery: the most common EV “breakdown”
Every EV and hybrid still has a small 12-volt battery that runs the computers, the door locks and the screens. When it dies, the car is completely inert even with a full main battery, and it looks like a total failure. It can be jump-started, but the procedure varies by model, and you must never use an EV or hybrid to jump another car. Read our jump-start guide for details. A mobile jump start is often all that is needed; if the 12-volt battery will not hold, a tow to the dealer or an EV-capable shop is next.
Hybrids: which rules apply?
Conventional hybrids (a Prius, a hybrid Camry or RAV4) have an engine and a transmission and can usually be towed like a gas car of the same drivetrain, which for most means a flatbed anyway because many are all-wheel drive. Plug-in hybrids and any hybrid with an electric rear axle should be treated like an EV and flatbedded. If you are unsure, say “hybrid” when you call and give the model; the dispatcher will send a flatbed if there is any doubt.
After a collision: battery safety
A high-voltage battery that has been struck hard can develop internal damage that is not visible. Signs to take seriously: a warning on the dash about the high-voltage system, a sweet or chemical smell, hissing, or any smoke. Move away from the car, call 911, and tell the operator it is an electric vehicle. A damaged EV should be towed by a company that knows to keep it away from structures and other vehicles once it is dropped off, because battery fires can begin hours later.
Where EVs get stranded around Cary
- The I-540 stretch between Davis Drive and the airport, where people bound for RDU discover their range was optimistic.
- Parking decks at Fenton and Park West, when the 12-volt battery quits after a long day.
- Along US-1 toward Apex and New Hill, where chargers get farther apart.
- Driveways in every Cary neighborhood, the morning after someone forgot to plug in.
What to tell the dispatcher
- That it is an electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid, and the exact model.
- Whether the car will power on and whether you can put it in transport mode.
- Whether the 12-volt battery might be the issue (screens dark, doors will not unlock).
- Any collision damage or battery warnings.
- Where you want to go: home charger, a fast charger, the dealer.
WTF Towing flatbeds EVs and hybrids every week across Cary, Apex, Morrisville, Holly Springs and RTP. Call (919) 230-4498, day or night.
Frequently asked questions
Can a dead EV be pushed? A short distance in transport mode, yes, at walking speed. Do not push or tow it any real distance with the wheels turning.
Will towing void my EV warranty? Improper towing that damages the drive unit can lead to a denied claim. Flatbed transport is what the manufacturer specifies.
Do you charge more for EVs? Ask the dispatcher for the price when you call; you will know before a truck is sent.
Can you tow a Tesla, Rivian, Ioniq, Mach-E, Bolt, ID.4, Lightning? Yes. All ride on the flatbed the same way, and our drivers know the transport-mode steps for the common models.
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