Rising Curb Weight of EVs Sparks Infrastructure, Safety, and Cost Concerns

From 2012 to 2024, the average curb weight of passenger vehicles in China increased from 1,312 kg to 1,704 kg—a rise of nearly 400 kg over 12 years. This trend has brought about multiple impacts. First, urban infrastructure is under growing strain. As the weight of new-energy SUVs and larger vehicle models continues to increase, the design load capacities of roads, elevated highways, and multi-level parking facilities in some cities may already be approaching or exceeding their original limits. Second, concerns have emerged regarding the cost of public resource usage. Some proposals suggest linking vehicle purchase tax and consumption tax to curb weight, so that heavier vehicles—which occupy more road space—bear higher usage costs. This measure aims to realign with the original policy goals of energy conservation and emissions reduction, rather than specifically targeting new-energy vehicles. Additionally, traffic safety risks are rising. Although some consumers believe heavier cars are safer, real-world test data shows that for every 10% increase in vehicle weight, braking distance under full load increases by approximately 5%. While heavier vehicles may offer better protection for their own occupants in collisions, they pose exponentially greater risks of injury to pedestrians, cyclists, and occupants of smaller vehicles.