Heavy Electric Cars Put Old Multi-Story Parking Car Parks At Risk Of Collapsing

Engineers are warning that as the world shifts to electric mobility accelerates, old multi-story car parks must be adapted to support the weight of heavy electric vehicles or risk partial collapse.

According to a review conducted by the UK's Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), weight limits should be imposed or buildings strengthened to support the increasingly large electric vehicles that weigh more than two tonnes on average. The guidance comes in the wake of the April collapse of a multi-story parking garage in New York City, which killed one person and sent five to the hospital.

Engineers are warning that as the world shifts to electric mobility accelerates, old multi-story car parks must be adapted to support the weight of heavy electric vehicles or risk partial collapse.

According to a review conducted by the UK's Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), weight limits should be imposed or buildings strengthened to support the increasingly large electric vehicles that weigh more than two tonnes on average.

The guidance comes in the wake of the April collapse of a multi-story parking garage in New York City, which killed one person and sent five to the hospital.

Whapples has led a team of ten engineers commissioned by IStructE to update design recommendations for multi-story car parks over the last two years.

The review suggests that car park owners have their structures inspected by engineering firms to determine whether they need to be strengthened. If this is too expensive, owners may be forced to impose a vehicle weight limit of up to 2.5 tonnes.

When asked how much a total redesign might cost car park owners, Whapple said he couldn't give a specific figure.

"I can't say much about the price because the figures would be speculative, and any strengthening procedures would have a price set against them that was unique to each car park," he explained.

"I think a lot of old owners will opt for imposing a weight limit rather than paying for strengthening measures."