Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential effect of heavier electric vehicles using the public highway on the durability and longevity of existing road surfaces; if he will publish details of that assessment; and if he will make a statement.

Increasing volumes of electric vehicles (EVs) are likely to have minimal impacts on roads in general, including on deterioration and longevity. Vehicles have been increasing in weight for many years, driven by consumer choice and improving safety and environmental performance technologies. While some EVs are heavier than their internal combustion engine (ICE) equivalents, there are many examples where EVs are lighter than the heaviest ICE vehicles currently on the market.

Maximum axle weight or gross vehicle weight limits are in place to avoid excessive road wear and damage. Heavy commercial vehicles, rather than passenger vehicles, are the dominant factor determining road design and weight limits.