Electric Cars Can't Be Towed Like Gas Cars
Most makers say an EV shouldn’t roll with its drive wheels on the ground, many lock in park when they lose power, and a damaged battery pack needs careful handling. Every Tuber Towing driver has completed NFPA’s Electric Vehicle Safety training, Tow and Salvage Edition, so your car is in good hands from the hook-up to the drop-off.
Trained for EVs. NFPA is the fire-safety organization behind the codes firefighters use, and this course is written for tow operators. It covers:
- how EV high-voltage batteries and safety systems work;
- recovering and towing EVs safely;
- damaged batteries, submerged EVs and removal after a fire;
- safe storage of an EV after an incident.
What We Handle
Out of Charge
We’ll tow you to the nearest charger, your home or your shop. If it’s only the small 12-volt battery that died, a boost may be all you need. We boost EVs and hybrids too.
Stuck in Park, No Power
When an EV loses power it can lock its wheels in park. Our crews have the gear and training to move it safely.
After a Collision, Fire or Flood
A damaged EV battery can heat up hours or even days after a crash. Our NFPA training covers exactly this: damaged high-voltage batteries, EVs that have been under water, removal after a fire, and safe storage after an incident.
Every Make, Flatbed or Dollies
Tesla, Hyundai, Kia, Ford, Chevrolet, Volkswagen, Rivian, Polestar, plug-in hybrids and the rest. Depending on the car and where it’s stuck, we move it on a flatbed or on wheel dollies, so the drive wheels don’t turn on the road. Tell dispatch the make and model when you call so the right truck comes.
Safe Storage for Damaged EVs
Damaged EVs don’t get parked in the general lot. Our yard has a concrete-walled bay that keeps them apart from other vehicles, so if a battery does heat up, it’s contained. We also have thermal imaging to check a damaged battery pack for heat you can’t see from the outside. Insurers, adjusters, body shops and fleets: call dispatch to arrange a tow and storage.
AMA and CAA Members
Tuber Towing is an authorized AMA/CAA contractor. If you’re a member, request service through AMA’s call centre or app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a regular tow truck tow an electric car?
Most makers say an EV should ride fully off the ground or on wheel dollies, not be towed with its drive wheels turning. We have both flatbeds and wheel dollies, and the driver uses whichever suits the car and the spot it's in.
My EV ran out of charge. What should I do?
Call us. We'll tow you to the nearest charger, your home or your shop. If only the 12-volt battery is dead, a boost may get you going.
Can you move an EV that's stuck in park?
Yes. When an EV loses power it can lock in park. Our crews have the gear and training to move it safely.
Do you tow Teslas?
Yes. We tow Teslas and every other EV make, and our drivers are trained for EVs.
What happens to an EV after a crash?
A damaged battery can heat up hours or days later, so it needs careful handling and storage. Our drivers have completed NFPA's EV Safety training for tow and salvage, and damaged EVs are kept in a concrete-walled bay in our yard, away from other vehicles. We can check a battery pack for hidden heat with thermal imaging.
Can you store a damaged EV for an insurer or body shop?
Yes. Damaged EVs go into a concrete-walled bay in our yard, apart from other vehicles, to contain any fire risk. Call dispatch to arrange it.
I'm an AMA member. Can I call you directly?
Please request service through AMA's call centre or app. Tuber Towing is an authorized AMA/CAA contractor.
Do you boost electric cars and hybrids?
Yes. Many EVs have a small 12-volt battery that runs the electronics. If it dies the car won't start, and a boost often fixes it.
How long will it take for a tow truck to reach me?
It depends on weather, traffic and where you are. Your dispatcher gives you a realistic ETA when you call.
While You Wait
- Turn on your hazards and stay out of traffic.
- If you smell burning, see smoke or hear hissing from under the car, get everyone out, move well away and call 911 first.
- If you know how, put the car in tow or transport mode. If not, our driver will help.
- Have your key or key card handy.
Where we tow EVs: Edmonton and the west side, including Spruce Grove, Acheson, Stony Plain, St. Albert and Parkland County, plus highway recoveries. Going further? Call and ask.
Want to see how an EV tow is done? Our co-founder posts real EV tows on the TuberTaylor YouTube channel. More about EVs and tow trucks on our blog: Why electric cars need tow trucks too.
Areas we serve: Edmonton Tow Truck, Spruce Grove Tow Truck, Acheson Tow Truck, Stony Plain Tow Truck, Leduc Tow Truck