A recent study has shed light on the detrimental impact of electric vehicles (EVs) on road infrastructure, revealing that they cause twice as much stress on roads as petrol vehicles. Conducted by data journalists at The Telegraph, the research highlighted that the strain imposed by EVs could potentially worsen the ongoing pothole crisis in the UK.
The study compared 15 popular EV models with their petrol counterparts and found that, on average, EVs exerted 2.24 times more stress on roads than similar petrol vehicles, and 1.95 times more stress than diesel vehicles. The weight difference between EVs and petrol vehicles was a key factor, with an average discrepancy of 312 kilograms. This increased weight is primarily due to the heavy batteries used in EVs, which can weigh up to 500 kilograms.
The repercussions of this heightened stress are concerning, as it leads to the movement of asphalt and the formation of small cracks that can eventually develop into problematic potholes. According to the Asphalt Industry Alliance, addressing this issue could require an expenditure of nearly £61,700 for every mile of local road in England and Wales. With the rising popularity of EVs, it is crucial to find solutions that mitigate the negative impact on road infrastructure to ensure the sustainability of the transportation sector.
Source: energylivenews.com