Experts in the U.K. say this is of particular concern in the country, where there are many older parking structures that may not be able to handle the weight of a lot of EVs. Poor maintenance is also a factor, increasing the “potential for some of the early car parks in poor condition to collapse,” according to Chris Whapples, a structural engineer and parking garage consultant.
Can electric cars cause old parking structures to collapse?
Answer: Possibly.
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Electric cars have a lot of benefits, but there are some potential issues with them as well. One is their weight, which could be problematic for aged and/or poorly maintained parking garages if too many EVs try to use them.
Experts in the U.K. say this is of particular concern in the country, where there are many older parking structures that may not be able to handle the weight of a lot of EVs. Poor maintenance is also a factor, increasing the “potential for some of the early car parks in poor condition to collapse,” according to Chris Whapples, a structural engineer and parking garage consultant.
Electric cars are so much heavier than gasoline-powered ones mostly due to their batteries. The Ford F-150 Lightning is between 2,000 and 3,000 pounds heavier than the non-electric model. Experts are recommending adding higher load-bearing weights to those parking structures that are at risk of collapse from these heavier vehicles.
Experts in the U.K. say this is of particular concern in the country, where there are many older parking structures that may not be able to handle the weight of a lot of EVs. Poor maintenance is also a factor, increasing the “potential for some of the early car parks in poor condition to collapse,” according to Chris Whapples, a structural engineer and parking garage consultant.
