EV: Worth the Weight?

 

By Jimmy Herrera, CAPP

Electric vehicles (EVs) seem to be here to stay. Every day, they seem more common and perform just a little bit better. From range to charging stations, the benefits seem to improve. Slowly but surely. That’s great on streets and highways but what about parking garages? What about the weight?

One common question I’ve heard at trade shows and amongst other parking professionals is regarding the weight of the EVs. But is this a fact or urban legend? How would we know, and should we care? Let’s take a look at the most popular American vehicle, the Ford F-150.

From 1990 to 2021, the approximate curbside weight of a base model Ford F-150 went up about 1,500 pounds. This is due to improved cabin safety, chassis design, and available options like all-wheel drive. This trend is common and reflected across all manufacturers. And it makes sense. More safety and additional engine components add weight.

Today, when compared side by side, the EV Ford F150 (the Ford Lightning) will have a curbside weight of 6,500 pounds. That’s up to 2,500 additional pounds over the base model. All that weight is required to beef up the chassis to carry the electric batteries. Can your garage handle a high concentration of these vehicles in a localized area? Hypothetically, if ten of these are on a parking deck, side by side, drawing a charge, should we be concerned about the additional 25,000 pounds?

Jimmy Herrera, CAPP, is a Facility Manager for SP+ Corporation. He can be reached at jherrera0@spplus.com.