EV Weight Controversy: Are Heavier Cars Damaging Roads and Skewing Road Tax Fairness?

In recent years, the curb weight of new energy vehicles (NEVs) has risen significantly. According to data from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the average curb weight of newly sold passenger cars in China was 1,312 kg in 2012, increasing to 1,704 kg by 2024. From January to April 2026, the average curb weight of new energy passenger cars reached 1,939.3 kg, a 27.5% increase compared to 2020. Some models are notably heavy: the Aito M9 EV version weighs 3,105 kg, while the Yangwang U8L reaches 3,639 kg, with a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,210 kg. The primary reasons for this weight gain are battery systems and added features. For example, a 100 kWh battery pack typically weighs between 550–600 kg for ternary lithium batteries and 600–700 kg for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries—accounting for 30%–40% of the vehicle’s total weight. Additionally, advanced intelligent driving hardware and comfort-oriented equipment further contribute to increased vehicle mass. Regarding claims that “electric vehicles are damaging roads,” some cite the “fourth power law,” which suggests that a 20% increase in vehicle weight doubles road damage. However, this principle applies specifically to heavy-duty trucks and is not relevant to passenger cars. According to China’s *Urban Road Engineering Design Code*, urban roads are designed to withstand a dual-tire single-axle load of 100 kN (equivalent to an axle load of 10 metric tons). Even for a 3-ton passenger car, the load per axle—when distributed across two axles—is only about 1.5 tons, far below the design limit, and thus insufficient to cause structural road damage. On another front, concerns about fairness have emerged regarding road maintenance funding. Since 2009, China has abolished the separate road maintenance fee, integrating it into the fuel consumption tax to create a “pay-as-you-use” mechanism: the more fuel consumed, the higher the tax paid. As NEVs do not use fuel, they currently do not contribute to road maintenance costs. With declining sales of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and falling fuel tax revenues, a funding gap of approximately RMB 300 billion has emerged for road upkeep. Some ICE vehicle owners argue that NEV owners should share these maintenance costs. Currently, purchase tax exemptions for NEVs have been adjusted from full exemption to a 50% reduction. Starting in 2025, plug-in hybrid and range-extended electric vehicles will also be required to pay annual vehicle and vessel taxes. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) notes that most current automotive taxation policies date back to the last century and no longer align with today’s industry landscape. Relevant authorities are now studying comprehensive reforms—including potential reintroduction or restructuring of road usage fees—with the aim of eventually harmonizing the tax systems for both fuel-powered and electric vehicles.