The Government has suggested that local authorities should check the weight limits on bridges to ensure they do not collapse with heavier electric cars travelling across them.
The suggestion follows concerns that multi-storey car parks may collapse if too many electric vehicles are parked on them.
Tory MP Greg Knight asked in the Commons whether Transport Secretary Mark Harper or other Cabinet colleagues might assess the “adequacy of the strength of multi-storey car parks and bridges at safely bearing the additional weight of electric vehicles”. Transport minister Jesse Norman said that it was up to councils to decide whether “weight limits” should be applied to their bridges. Electric vehicles can weigh as much as 33% more than traditional petrol cars.
Councillor Phil Bateman said ” I have asked the City Council today to advise on these concerns.”
