Data revealing potential pothole damage from electric vehicles has strengthened the case for concrete roads, according to an industry body.
Analysis by the University of Leeds shows that the average electric car more than doubles the wear and tear on roads, increasing the risk of small cracks turning into potholes. These vehicles can weigh up to two tons due to the heavy battery.
The research, first published by The Daily Telegraphfound that the average electric car puts 2.24 times more stress on the roads than its petrol equivalent and 1.95 times more than a diesel.
The largest electric vehicles, those weighing more than two tonnes, are the most damaging to road surfaces, responsible for 2.32 times more wear and tear.
Currently, more than 95 per cent of UK roads are covered with asphalt, which is a mixture of aggregates (crushed rock, sand, gravel or slag) and binding and filling materials.
But Britpave, the British Cement Paving Association, says a more robust road surface will be needed to cope with the extra pressure created by the growth of electric vehicles.
“The road network needs a surfacing solution that can help realize the potential of electric vehicles,” said Britpave chairman Joe Quirke.
Concrete roads offer a more durable road surface with better long-term performance and lower maintenance requirements than asphalt, he added.
“The strength and long-term performance of concrete [it] very suitable for roads as they don’t need regular maintenance and in hot summers they don’t melt, unlike asphalt roads.”
Researchers at the University of Leeds divided the models by size into small electric cars weighing more than 1,000kg, such as the three-door BMW Mini Cooper SE and Peugeot e208, medium models weighing more than 1,500kg, such as the Ford Focus Electric and the Vauxhall Corsa. e, and larger vehicles such as the Jaguar I-pace EV and the Audi e-tron 50 Quattro.
They found that electric vehicles weighed an average of 312kg more than similar petrol versions due to their heavier batteries, which weigh up to 500kg.
The pothole crisis in the UK, which has seen half as many potholes filled last year compared to a decade ago and the total estimated repair bill now at £12bn, could be exacerbated by the extra weight of electric vehicles, Britpave said.
Proponents of asphalt on roads argue that it has many advantages as a road surface. The Asphalt Industry Alliance website says: “Its inherent qualities of flexibility, construction efficiency, ease of maintenance and value for money make it the number one choice with over 20 million tonnes of asphalt produced each year in United Kingdom”.
Around 4 per cent of England’s network of motorways and long-distance roads, around 400 miles, is made of concrete, according to National Highways.
