The British fear: Electric vehicles are too heavy

More and more electric vehicles are on UK roads, with manufacturers ramping up production and developing cars with larger batteries to improve range and overall practicality. On the other hand, the total mass of vehicles is growing, and the infrastructure is old and the question is whether it can support new loads.

As it says HAK magazine, experts have recently pointed out a problem concerning older multi-storey car parks – old structures may be at risk of collapse due to the increased mass of new cars. Electric vehicles are much heavier than today’s usual gasoline or diesel cars, and they are certainly more bulky than the models that were on the roads fifty and sixty years ago – when a lot of parking lots were built. In order to solve the problem, new guidelines are being introduced on weight limits in car parks. Chris Whapples, civil engineer, car park consultant and the man behind the new guidelines, told The Telegraph:

– I don’t want to be a panic, but there is definitely a potential for some of the first built parking lots to collapse, which are in bad condition.

The problems don’t end there, with government ministers also suggesting that local councils should check weight limits on bridges – to ensure they don’t collapse as heavier electric cars travel over them. Member of Parliament, Tory Greg Knight, comments:

– Electric vehicles can be up to 33 percent heavier than equivalent gasoline-powered vehicles and it is important that those who care about the safety of our roads and bridges take this into account.

Source: Revijahak.hr

Photo: Arhiva Autoblog.rs / Jaguar