Experts warn that the weight of electric vehicles could cause multi-story parking garages to collapse across the United Kingdom.
Electric vehicles, which are approximately twice as heavy as conventional vehicles, could cause significant damage to parking garage floors, with older, neglected structures most at risk of collapsing.
New recommendations for increased load-bearing capacities are currently being developed to accommodate heavier vehicles.
Chris Whapples, a structural engineer and parking lot consultant, is at the vanguard of these soon-to-be-published new regulations.
“I don’t want to be alarmist,” he told The Telegraph.
“Operators must be aware of electric vehicle weights, have their parking lots evaluated for strength, and determine if weight restrictions are necessary.”
The majority of the nation’s 6,000 multi-story and underground structures were constructed based on the weight of 1976’s most popular automobiles, including the Mk 3 Ford Cortina.
However, the electric vehicles currently available in the United Kingdom are considerably bulkier. The most popular Tesla Model 3 weights 2.2 tonnes when fully loaded, more than 50% heavier than a 1.4-ton Cortina.
Electric vehicles are heavy due to their batteries and stronger chassis and suspension.
Hugo Griffiths, an investigative journalist, issued the following warning a year ago: “Cars have been growing heavier for some time. In the 1970s, family cars such as the Ford Cortina weighed less than 1,000 kilograms. And the original Range Rover was approximately one tonne lighter than its modern counterpart.
‘Consumer demand and technological advancements have led to an increase in the number of creature amenities installed in automobiles, with features such as power windows and climate control adding weight.
‘Safety enhancements have also resulted in heavier loads. Side-impact bars, airbags, laminated glass, and traction-control systems help prevent or mitigate collisions. But these safety features tend to increase the mass of the vehicle.
‘Added to this is the push towards electrification: a petrol engine might weigh around 150 kilograms, whereas an electric vehicle battery pack can easily burden 500 kilograms.’
In recent years, the demand for electric vehicles has skyrocketed. One out of every ten new automobiles sold in 2021 will be electric, while seven percent will be hybrid.
The government recently announced its Zero Emissions vehicle rule, limiting the amount of non-EV vehicles sold in future years.
By 2035, it is anticipated that electric vehicles will account for four out of every five miles driven.
