More EVs should mean higher weight limits, say car carriers
The industry push is leaning heavily toward electric vehicles. If this is to come into play - which it looks like it will - then weight limits set on a federal basis need to be amended to accommodate heavier vehicles. That is what the trucking industry is saying, at least.
Currently, the weight limit sits at the 1975 standard of 80,000 pounds. Car haulers in particular are advocating for raising those weight limits to 88,000 in order to accommodate the additional weight of electric vehicle battery packs. These battery packs usually weigh about 1,000 to 1,600 pounds more than the standard gas-powered vehicle.
However, the rail industry claims that these car haulers lobbying for higher weight limits is not considering the safety repercussions and instead leveraging a “political situation” over the implementation of electric vehicles.
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