Chinese media outlet Yicai reported on the 25th that concerns are being raised about the ongoing increase in the weight of new energy vehicles, with people saying, 'Roads cannot withstand the weight.'

According to the article, China's NEVs are becoming larger and heavier year by year. According to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the average vehicle weight of passenger cars in China reached 1704 kg in 2024, an increase of about 400 kg from 1312 kg in 2012. It is especially not uncommon for NEVs to exceed 2 tons.

Recently, Maextro's new model 'V800' reached a gross weight of 3.8 tons, attracting attention as being as heavy as a light truck. In addition to the popularity of large SUVs, huge batteries to achieve long cruising ranges, and an increase in luxury features such as premium seats and refrigerators, are said to be pushing up vehicle weight.

Experts point out that this trend is not technological progress but rather the result of excessive competition. The consumer value of 'the bigger the car, the more premium' is also in the background, and manufacturers are also actively introducing large vehicles with high-profit margins.

The impact of increasing vehicle weight is not limited to worsening fuel efficiency. For a 3-ton class electric SUV, electricity consumption per 100 kilometers can sometimes exceed 20 kWh. It is said that reducing weight by 100 kg can lower power consumption by approximately 7.5%. Furthermore, increased weight leads to the mass consumption of resources such as steel, lithium, and nickel.

The burden on roads and bridges is also serious. Li Bin, CEO of NIO, said, 'If a car's weight increases by 20%, the road damage rate approximately doubles.' If vehicles continue to become larger, infrastructure maintenance costs could also skyrocket.

There are also safety concerns. Although there is a strong perception among Chinese consumers that 'heavier cars are safer,' experts pointed out, 'Safety depends on the design and is not necessarily proportional to weight. If weight increases by 10%, braking distance increases by approximately 5%, and tire life also shortens.'

Amidst this situation, the automotive industry has also begun moves to promote 'lightweighting.' NIO has stringent vehicle weight management, reportedly requiring CEO approval for every 1 kg increase in weight. Tesla is also promoting lightweighting by reducing wiring and the number of parts through integrated control units and unibody molding technology.

Within the industry, calls for policy responses are also growing stronger, and experts are proposing the introduction of a progressive tax system based on weight. The idea is that the heavier the car, the greater the burden on roads, and therefore a higher tax burden should be required.

It is said that the penetration rate of new energy vehicles in China has already exceeded 50%. Experts warn that if the current 'larger and more luxurious competition' continues, problems such as resource consumption, environmental load, and infrastructure damage will become even more serious. (Translation/Editing by Kitada)