Nio CEO Warns: A 1.2-Fold Increase in Vehicle Weight Raises Road Damage by 2.07 Times
Nio founder and CEO William Li has again warned about the increasing weight of vehicles: according to him, a 1.2-fold increase in weight raises road damage by 2.07 times.
Li made this statement at the automotive forum of the World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, where he spoke alongside Eric Li, Chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. This was their first public conversation following the conclusion of a strategic partnership on charging and battery swapping.
He cited vehicles with battery capacities of up to 120 kWh and battery pack weights of 700–800 kg as an example. According to Li, the vehicle itself suffers minimally from this, but the additional load is transferred to the roads. This effect is explained by a principle in road engineering: pavement damage increases proportionally to the fourth power of the axle load.
Nio’s battery packs typically weigh 400–500 kg. Li acknowledged that this approach limits the company’s choice of battery capacity and range. "Will we be rewarded for this? I don’t know," he said.
The Nio CEO is not the first to raise the issue of electric vehicle weight. Previously, he stated that manufacturers are thoughtlessly increasing battery capacity, and each Nio model undergoes separate approval for its target weight. He also called for national-level restrictions on vehicle weight, as without such guidelines, competition could become disorderly.
The problem has extended beyond individual companies: regulators have already linked electric vehicle energy consumption requirements to their curb weight. Additionally, a potential reform is being explored in which vehicle weight would be factored into tax calculations.
