EVs Grow Bigger and Heavier Over Decade, Sparking Parking Crisis

In recent years, the body dimensions and curb weights of household new energy vehicles have continued to increase. Data shows that around the year 2000, the typical width of passenger cars was approximately 1.7 meters, which grew to 1.8 meters by 2015. Today, popular mid-to-large-sized new energy SUVs and MPVs commonly have widths approaching or exceeding 2 meters. Vehicle weight has also risen significantly: in 2024, the average curb weight of newly sold passenger cars in China reached 1,704 kilograms, nearly 400 kilograms heavier than in 2012. Notably, the weight gain from 2020 to 2024 alone surpassed the total increase recorded between 2012 and 2020. Some new energy models now exceed 2 metric tons in curb weight, posing practical challenges for parking. Under a purchase tax incentive policy set to take effect in 2026, battery electric vehicles with a curb weight exceeding 2,710 kilograms must achieve an energy consumption of no more than 19.1 kWh per 100 kilometers under CLTC driving conditions to qualify for a 50% purchase tax reduction—a requirement that imposes certain constraints on further vehicle weight increases by automakers.