Posted on 12/18/2022 2:30:56 PM PST by Libloather
Multi-storey and underground car parks could collapse under the weight of electric vehicles, engineers have warned.
Electric cars, which are roughly twice as heavy as standard models, could cause ‘catastrophic’ damage, according to the British Parking Association (BPA), which wants local authorities to conduct urgent structural surveys.
Most of the nation’s 6,000 multi-storey and underground facilities were built according to guidance based on the weight of popular cars of 1976, including the Mk 3 Ford Cortina.
But the electric cars currently on the UK market are far bulkier. For instance, the best-selling Tesla Model 3 weighs 2.2 tons fully loaded, making it more than 50 per cent heavier than a 1.4-tonne Cortina.
Structural engineer Chris Whapples, a member of the BPA which represents car-park owners, said: ‘If a vehicle is heavier than the car park was originally designed for, the effects could be catastrophic. We’ve not had an incident yet, but I suspect it is only a matter of time.
‘We have recommended that a loading check is performed on all older car parks. And the industry is responding.’
Electric vehicles are heavier predominantly because of the batteries used to power them, and the reinforced framework and suspension needed to accommodate them.
‘All the internal components make these batteries very, very heavy,’ said Mr Whapples. ‘Nowadays, the battery forms the underfloor of most EVs. It’s contained over virtually the entire footprint of the vehicle, from axle to axle.’
Electric cars have soared in popularity in recent years. Today there are an estimated 620,000 on the road in the UK, and 440,000 plug-in hybrids which use both petrol and electric.
One in ten new cars sold in 2021 was electric, while a further seven per cent were hybrid.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
EVs don’t change the mass of the Earth, but they do increase (slightly) the Earth’s moment of inertia.
This is the first time I’ve seen anyone raise the e-car’s weight as a matter of concern. Elon!! Step away from your new chew toy called Twitter for a few weeks. Some redesiging of your e-car models is in order. Before a class action suit beats you to the point.
Studies show that collapsed parking garages are good for the planet.
https://motorhills.com/7-reasons-why-electric-cars-are-so-heavy/
That means that EVs are an average of 750 pounds heavier. Sure, that isn’t a huge deal, but it’s still pretty considerable.
If carpet parking is built to that close of tolorances..............
Good Idea. Park on the first floor as fire would be easier to put out. (sarc)
I’m hearing that some parking garages in the US won’t take EVs. Afraid of fires perhaps?
ErikLatranyi:also harder on our roads and bridges
The typical American pickup truck and SUV weighs more than an EV car. Are we prepared to ban those as well or talk about a paying a higher road tax? Talking about what vehicle is bad for US roads can lead to a slippery slope we do not want to go down.
EVs are a Dead-End
Ice bergs melting causes the oceans to rise . . . somehow.
but at least the erfs atmospheric CO2 concentration won’t go above the super dangerous 0.045%
So reduce the allowed capacity of existing parking garages by 50% and build twice the number of garages.
But garages are made out of concrete. Concrete comes from calcined limestone: CaCo3 + heat —> CaO + CO2.
See that last term in the equation? Making concrete to park your heavy EV releases millions of tons more CO2!
Why are we building EVs again? To reduce CO2?
These idiots have never been able to spell “system” or understand one.
It just gets worse and worse.
“EVs don’t change the mass of the Earth, but they do increase (slightly) the Earth’s moment of inertia.”
Uh-oh, EV’s are going to throw the erf out of balance.
I’ve seen EV charging stations 2-3 levels down in DC parking garages.
Retards
For cryin' out loud, what's the worst that could happen?
/sarc
When the States figure out the additional damage to roads as well, I hope like heck that they tax these vehicles accordingly!
Tax them into oblivion!
These Enviro-Weenies. Always with the, ‘unintended consequences.’ Always!
And another “unintended consequence” discovered because of the Earth saving EVs.
and don’t forget peak lithium. Only enought for 10B leafs car batteries. I think teslas are twice the size.
yeah they are way behind us in car ownership about 300 million
but they are also building coal plants
they are building evs to get everyone on the grid
control the grid
control the people
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