Australians are driving bigger, heavier, dirtier cars and it’s alarming both climate and road safety experts.
A decade ago, sedans and hatchbacks were the most popular cars in Australia. Today, Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and American-style utes dominate new car sales and advertising.
While it’s true that EVs are generally heavier than equivalent ICE vehicles, it doesn’t actually make much difference. Heavy trucks account for the vast majority of road wear and tear. Even a comparatively heavy EV doesn’t weigh anywhere near as much as a truck.
The “EVs will wear the roads out!” argument is generally trotted out by people who have been influenced by those who have a vested interest in keeping ICE around.
It’s true that active transport and PT are better in most respects, its naive to think we’ll be getting rid of cars any time soon. When people do need to drive, an EV is always a better choice from an environmental standpoint.