This myth, often perpetuated by certain UK newspapers, suggests that the weight of electric vehicles (EVs) poses a risk to multi-storey car parks and bridges, leading to potential collapses. However, there is no factual evidence to support this claim.
Several headlines from newspapers like The Telegraph have spread this myth with phrases like “Heavy batteries in electric vehicles leave multi-storey car parks at risk of collapse.” However, closer examination of these articles reveals a lot of speculative language such as “ifs”, “could”, “possible”, “at risk”, and “the potential for” without providing concrete evidence of collapses or damages due to EVs.
Upon investigation, it was found that this myth likely originated from a hypothetical question posed to an engineer by a journalist about the weight of EVs in relation to older car park construction. The engineer’s responses were in a hypothetical context with many qualifications, and he did not report any actual collapses.
It’s worth noting that there is no documented case of a bridge or multi-storey car park collapsing due to the weight of EVs. Considering the number of heavy SUVs and multi-axle 44-tonne Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) already on UK roads, which do cause wear to road surfaces and infrastructure, the concern about EV weight seems exaggerated. While there may not be many HGVs in multi-storey car parks, there are plenty of two-tonne SUVs that park in them without issue.
Furthermore, the assumption that the collective weight of EVs traveling across bridges could lead to collapses overlooks the fact that one 44-tonne articulated lorry is equivalent to around 22 EVs. The Telegraph also ran a story about heavier EVs potentially causing more pothole damage on UK roads, citing research by the University of Leeds. However, the university clarified that the research was not theirs and requested a correction, distancing themselves from the article.
In summary, the fear that ‘heavy’ EVs will collapse multi-storey car parks and bridges is unfounded and based on speculative language without any factual basis or documented incidents. The weight of EVs is not significantly different from other vehicles currently on the roads, and there is no evidence to suggest they pose a unique risk to infrastructure.