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One thing I noticed, a Rivian R1T weighs around 7200lbs. My super crew Super Duty weighed around 6500lbs and was taxed and licensed at the 10000lb GVW class. T

One thing I noticed, a Rivian R1T weighs around 7200lbs. My super crew Super Duty weighed around 6500lbs and was taxed and licensed at the 10000lb GVW class. The Rivian is not taxed like that but it sure as hell is putting a lot more weight on the roads than a Super Duty that isn't fully laden. The weight of EVs is far more than I even considered to imagine. I am really surprised at the total weight. This is going to cause significant road damage. At current vehicle weights communities can't even afford road maintenance as it is. As far as I know, all road maintenance is financed with debt. I'm just wondering how we maintain our current usage patterns with vehicles, switch to far heavier ones, and even begin to address the ongoing road maintenance. We haven't even figured out how to tax EVs yet. ICE vehicles pay a hefty tax at the pump...though that is probably not enough. I don't see where the political will is even coming from to deal with this minor issue of increased road maintenance.

jewayne 3y ago
I learned recently that road wear varies as the 4th power of vehicle weight. This means that every 20% increase in weight doubles the amount of damage that vehicle does to the road/street. This means the absolute vast majority of road wear is caused by the largest vehicles -- tractor-trailers, large box trucks, etc. Yes, personal electric vehicles weigh a lot more than their ICE equivalents, but they're still only going to cause a small fraction of the road damage. What we'll need to worry about and plan for are these electric semis that are rolling out. They will almost certainly cause noticeably more road damage than their ICE peers.
- datavirtue 3y ago
  I think a swell of EVs are going to far outweigh the semis and box trucks. I agree, they are the largest impact but the scale of EV ownership that is being promoted will result in an insane increase in road wear.
  - jewayne 3y ago
    > I agree, they are the largest impact but the scale of EV ownership that is being promoted will result in an insane increase in road wear. I mean, I just explained why it won't.
    - datavirtue 3y ago
      By comparing one vehicle to another in a static state? More EVs weighing significantly more than equivalent ICE vehicles actually moving across the roads doesn't have a increased wear affect? Ford Ranger 4200lbs Rivian R1T 7200lbs I believe by your stated calculation that the Rivian is more than two Ford Rangers worth of wear. Subtract the big trucks from all this, to avoid getting caught up in relative comparisons, and there is going to be more net road wear.
pests 3y ago
A M3 yearly renewal in Michigan in over $500. How is that not a solution to the road taxes being avoided? 12,000 miles a year at $3.50 a gallon and assuming 35mpg is only $1600in gas costs. How much of that would really be taxes? I know non-EVs don't pay anywhere near close to hundreds of dollar to renew the registration yearly.

jewayne 3y ago

I learned recently that road wear varies as the 4th power of vehicle weight. This means that every 20% increase in weight doubles the amount of damage that vehicle does to the road/street. This means the absolute vast majority of road wear is caused by the largest vehicles -- tractor-trailers, large box trucks, etc. Yes, personal electric vehicles weigh a lot more than their ICE equivalents, but they're still only going to cause a small fraction of the road damage. What we'll need to worry about and plan for are these electric semis that are rolling out. They will almost certainly cause noticeably more road damage than their ICE peers.

datavirtue 3y ago
I think a swell of EVs are going to far outweigh the semis and box trucks. I agree, they are the largest impact but the scale of EV ownership that is being promoted will result in an insane increase in road wear.
- jewayne 3y ago
  > I agree, they are the largest impact but the scale of EV ownership that is being promoted will result in an insane increase in road wear. I mean, I just explained why it won't.
  - datavirtue 3y ago
    By comparing one vehicle to another in a static state? More EVs weighing significantly more than equivalent ICE vehicles actually moving across the roads doesn't have a increased wear affect? Ford Ranger 4200lbs Rivian R1T 7200lbs I believe by your stated calculation that the Rivian is more than two Ford Rangers worth of wear. Subtract the big trucks from all this, to avoid getting caught up in relative comparisons, and there is going to be more net road wear.

pests 3y ago

A M3 yearly renewal in Michigan in over $500. How is that not a solution to the road taxes being avoided? 12,000 miles a year at $3.50 a gallon and assuming 35mpg is only $1600in gas costs. How much of that would really be taxes? I know non-EVs don't pay anywhere near close to hundreds of dollar to renew the registration yearly.