China Puts EVs on a Diet as Battery Boom Adds Bulk, CCTV Reports

China is initiating a shift towards slimmer electric vehicles (EVs) following a trend of increasing size and weight driven by demand for larger batteries, more space, and added features. State broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) reported on June 7 that the average passenger car in the country now weighs 1,704 kg, approximately 33% heavier than in 2012. Over the years, family EVs have also become wider, with many popular sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) now approaching or exceeding 2 meters in width. This trend is raising concerns as larger vehicles strain existing infrastructure. Some EVs are reportedly becoming too large for parking spaces designed under standards established a decade ago; one vehicle measured by CCTV was nearly 2.3 meters wide, compared to the current standard parking space width of 2.4 meters. Factors contributing to this growth include the pursuit of longer driving ranges, with some manufacturers marketing vehicles capable of traveling up to 1,000 km on a single charge, requiring battery packs that can weigh as much as 800 kg. Automakers have also added numerous comfort and lifestyle features to differentiate themselves in China's competitive EV market. Some models are marketed as mobile living spaces, complete with amenities like in-car toilets. In response, Beijing has implemented a mandatory national standard that took effect on January 1. This regulation prohibits new EV models that fail to meet energy-consumption requirements from being produced, sold, or registered, aiming to curb the escalating size and weight of electric cars.