EV Towing: What Every Electric Vehicle Owner in Iowa Needs to Know

Electric vehicles are no longer a rarity on Iowa roads. According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, EV registrations in the state surpassed 15,000 in 2025, with the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids corridor seeing some of the highest adoption rates in the state. But when an EV breaks down or runs out of charge, most drivers discover a critical fact too late: electric vehicles require special towing procedures. Towing an EV incorrectly can cause thousands of dollars in damage to the drivetrain, battery pack, and regenerative braking system. IC Roadside & Key is equipped to tow all major EV brands safely. If you need EV towing right now, call (319) 963-2108.

Why Electric Vehicles Require Flatbed Towing

The single most important rule for towing any electric vehicle is this: always use a flatbed tow truck. Never use a wheel-lift or dolly setup on an EV. Here is why.

In a conventional gasoline car, the transmission can be shifted into neutral, disconnecting the wheels from the engine. EVs work differently. The electric motor is directly connected to the wheels through a fixed-ratio reduction gear. When the wheels spin, the motor spins. And when the motor spins, it generates electricity through a process called regenerative braking.

The Regenerative Braking Problem

Regenerative braking is a feature that recovers energy when you slow down, feeding it back into the battery. It is one of the reasons EVs are so efficient. But during towing, this system becomes a serious liability. When an EV is towed with its wheels on the ground, the spinning wheels force the electric motor to rotate. This generates electrical current that feeds back into the battery and power electronics. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), this uncontrolled energy generation can overheat the motor, damage the inverter, degrade the battery cells, and in extreme cases trigger a thermal event in the battery pack.

Tesla's owner manual explicitly states: "Do not transport Model 3 using a wheel-lift or dolly. Doing so can cause damage to the motor and void the warranty." Similar warnings appear in the manuals for the Chevrolet Bolt, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Ford F-150 Lightning, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and virtually every other EV on the market.

Vehicle-Specific Towing Notes

Tesla Model 3, Model Y, Model S, Model X

All Tesla vehicles must be flatbed towed. Tesla recommends activating "Transport Mode" through the touchscreen before loading. This releases the parking brake and allows the vehicle to roll freely onto the flatbed. If the vehicle has no power, the tow truck operator must use the manual release for the parking brake, which varies by model.

Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV

The Bolt must be flatbed towed with all four wheels off the ground. GM's owner manual warns that towing with any wheels on the road surface will damage the electric drive unit. The Bolt does not have a traditional neutral mode that disconnects the motor from the wheels.

Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E

Ford recommends flatbed towing for all its EVs. The F-150 Lightning is particularly important to note because its size may tempt tow operators to use a wheel-lift. Despite being a full-size truck, the Lightning must ride on a flatbed to protect its dual electric motors and high-voltage battery.

Cost Differences for EV Towing

EV towing in the Iowa City area typically costs $100 to $200 for a local tow, roughly $25 to $75 more than a standard vehicle tow. The premium reflects the mandatory flatbed requirement and the additional care needed when handling high-voltage battery systems. However, this modest increase is insignificant compared to the cost of drivetrain damage from improper towing, which can run $3,000 to $10,000 or more for motor or battery replacement.

What to Do If Your EV Runs Out of Charge

Running out of battery charge is the EV equivalent of running out of gas, and it happens more often than you might think, especially on longer drives between Iowa City and Des Moines where charging infrastructure is still developing. If your EV dies on the road:

1. Pull over safely and turn on your hazard lights.
2. Do not attempt to coast to a charging station on extremely low charge. Many EVs reduce power output significantly below 5% state of charge, which can leave you stranded in a dangerous location.
3. Call IC Roadside & Key at (319) 963-2108. We will flatbed tow your vehicle to the nearest charging station or your home.
4. Do not accept a wheel-lift tow from any provider unfamiliar with EVs.

Charging Stations Near Iowa City

The Iowa City and Cedar Rapids area has seen significant charging infrastructure growth. Key locations include Tesla Supercharger stations in Coralville near the Iowa River Landing, ChargePoint and Electrify America stations along the I-80 corridor, Level 2 chargers at the University of Iowa campus parking facilities, and public chargers at Coral Ridge Mall and several Iowa City hotels. Planning your routes around available chargers helps prevent range anxiety, but if you do get stranded, we are a phone call away.

Iowa EV Adoption and What It Means for Drivers

The Iowa DOT reports that EV registrations have grown more than 40% year over year since 2022. With federal tax credits still available for qualifying EVs and Iowa's expanding charging network, this trend will accelerate. As more EVs hit Iowa roads, the need for towing providers who understand how to handle these vehicles safely becomes critical. Many towing companies in Eastern Iowa still do not have the training or equipment for proper EV towing.

IC Roadside & Key's EV Towing Capabilities

IC Roadside & Key operates flatbed tow trucks that can safely transport any electric vehicle, from compact EVs like the Chevy Bolt to full-size electric trucks like the F-150 Lightning. Our technicians are trained on EV-specific towing procedures including transport mode activation, manual parking brake release, and high-voltage safety protocols. We serve Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Coralville, North Liberty, and all of Eastern Iowa 24 hours a day. If you drive an EV and need a tow, call (319) 963-2108 for safe, professional service.

Frequently Asked Questions