Packing for an adventure in your electric vehicle

How do you pack your EV for adventures in the most efficient way possible? Find the most aerodynamic solutions so that you can go on trips with your EV without impacting the range of your car.

Head for adventures with your EV! Thule has lots of solutions that help you pack your electric vehicle full of gear – while still ensuring that the car is as aerodynamic as possible to optimize the battery range of your vehicle.

Certain electric vehicles might not be able to hold anything on the roof due to a low load capacity. But not to fear! Thule has a range of solutions that go on the back of your vehicle and can carry cargo or bikes. These rear cargo boxes provide extra space for your luggage, perfect if you want to maximize the packing capacity of smaller cars.

Thule Arcos is to most aerodynamic option and looks fantastic on your vehicle thanks to a design that integrates seamlessly with the rest of your car. The hard-shell exterior makes it robust and weather-resistant, and the low-profile, curved design means you can access your trunk at any time.

Thule Onto is a soft-shell cargo box which makes it easy to fold and store away without taking up too much space. It's perfect for everyday errands or adventures off in the outdoors.

Thule BackSpace XT is a super flexible solution that mounts on the Thule VeloSpace XT towbar bike rack, and lets you bring your bikes one day, and your luggage the next.

Whether you’re packing your electric vehicle for a camping trip or a ski vacation, a cargo box is a great way to make space for all your gear. For EVs, it’s vital to choose the most aerodynamic solution. Minimal wind drag means minimal impact on the range of your electric vehicle.

Thule cargo and sports carriers have some of the most streamlined designs on the market. In fact, our internal tests show that with a rear-of-car cargo solution like Thule Arcos or Thule Onto, you can travel farther than a car without anything on it at all.

Sounds counterintuitive, right? Read on to learn more!

At Thule, we test our products a whole bunch – but people are also constantly testing our products out in the real world, too.

Vi Bilägare, one of the largest automotive magazines in Sweden, tested a roof box and our Thule Onto rear cargo box with an electric car. They found that the towbar cargo carrier created less wind drag than a roof box, and consumed less fuel and electricity than a car with nothing on it at all*.

They write, “We found that both the petrol car and the electric car had slightly lower consumption with the box fitted than when the car was running completely empty on the test route”.

So if electricicty consumption is something you worry about with your EV, a towbar cargo carrier is a great option.

Read the article from Vi Bilägare (in swedish).

Here are some rear-of-car cargo carriers that we recommend to optimize the packing space of your vehicle.

Roof racks are the base where you can load the roof carriers for all your adventures. They work with roof boxes, bike racks, ski racks, and more. Thule’s roof racks are specifically designed to be as aerodynamic and quiet as possible. This ensures minimal drag and less electricity consumption as a result.

Some of our most aerodynamic roof racks include:

Thule WingBar Evo is an all-around roof rack compatible with all accessories, from roof boxes to rooftop tents. Its wide loading area allows you to transport more gear.

Thule WingBar Edge is a sleek and sporty roof rack that integrates seamlessly with the rest of the car. It's a stylish solution for your bike rack or roof box.

Thule roofboxes are some of the most streamlined on the market, to add as little drag as possible. This makes them a great choice if you want to fill your EV with lots of luggage.

Here are some of our recommended solutions for an EV:

When you’re traveling with an EV, there are a range of different ways to equip your vehicle. For outdoor adventures, ski trips, and outings with the kids – there is a solution for you!

Even though rear cargo carriers are not designed to carry skis, they free up space on the roof of your car for a ski rack or ski box. They also provide lots of extra space for your ski boots, helmets, and other ski gear.

*Internal tests at Thule show that our rear cargo boxes have an improved effect on the range of your vehicle. However, many parameters can affect your vehicle’s fuel consumption or battery range. Therefore, you may see results that differ from ours.