Roof tent on electric car – how does it affect range and consumption?
Johan Pettersson |13/03, 2026
Electric cars are becoming more common and at the same time, interest in roof tents and car camping is growing. Many people are therefore wondering if roof tents work on electric cars and how they affect range.
The good news is that most electric cars work very well with roof tents .
Can you have a roof tent on an electric car?
Yes. Most electric cars have roof racks and roof loads that allow the use of roof tents.
Examples of electric cars where roof tents work well:
Tesla Model Y
Tesla Model 3
Volvo EX30
Volvo EX40
Kia EV6
Volkswagen ID.4
The important thing is to check the car's roof load and use stable roof racks.
How do roof tents affect range?
Because a roof tent is located on the roof, the car's air resistance is affected.
Consumption usually increases slightly, but how much depends on several factors:
speed
wind
tent size
car aerodynamics
In many tests, the increase is approximately 5–15% .
Advantages of electric cars and roof tents
The combination of an electric car and a roof tent has several advantages.
You get:
quiet driving
low operating costs
possibility to travel flexibly
easy charging along the way
Many people today use electric cars for road trips through Sweden, Norway and Europe.
Which roof tent is suitable for electric cars?
For electric cars, low profile and low weight are especially important.
Hardshell tents are therefore a popular option because they are often more aerodynamic than traditional tents.
An example is the Gasell GM 2026 , which is developed for Nordic conditions.
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