Cars are getting heavier

E-mobility European cars are becoming heavier

2024-01-18 Source: sp-x | Translated by AI 1 min Reading Time

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Electric cars inherently weigh more than comparable combustion engine cars. However, this only partially explains the extreme weight gain of new cars in Europe.

The BMW iX weighs a good 2.5 tons.(Image: BMW) — The BMW iX weighs a good 2.5 tons.
(Image: BMW)

Europe's cars are getting heavier. In addition to the weight gain due to electric car batteries, other factors are at play, as shown by a study from the consulting agency "Inovev". This is because the type of vehicles being built in Europe has also changed apart from the propulsion system.

Between 2020 and 2022, the average weight of cars manufactured on the continent increased significantly: from 1,411 kilograms to 1,462 kilograms – a gain of 50 kg (+3.5%) in just two years. A substantial part of this increase is due to the electrification of drivetrains – from hybrids to pure electric motors. Considering only non-electrified vehicles, the increase is much smaller, at 17 kilograms or 1.2 percent.

No model under 900 kilograms

A second factor for the mass growth is the trend towards ever larger vehicles. In recent years, cars in the weight class of 700 to 800 kilograms have completely disappeared. Since 2023, not even a European model below 900 kilograms is on offer. The currently lightest car is the conventional compact car Renault Twingo at 975 kilograms. Also, the range of medium-weight models from 900 to 1,600 kilograms has significantly decreased recently.

Heavy cars weighing 1,600 to 1,900 kilograms have become more popular in contrast. However, sales of European models have declined due to the success of the Tesla Model 3, which is also built in the USA and China. Therefore, growth among the European makes happened only in the very heavy class over 1,900 kilograms.

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