China faces increased road maintenance costs after the advance of larger, heavier electrified vehicles reliant on large batteries
The rapid expansion of electric and hybrid cars has begun to create a new challenge for China’s infrastructure. Increasingly larger and heavier, these vehicles are putting more pressure on streets and roads, while the government collects less money from fuel taxes.
The problem combines two central factors. On one hand, electrified cars with bulky batteries can exceed three tons. On the other, the more drivers stop refueling with gasoline or diesel, the smaller the revenue traditionally allocated for road maintenance becomes.
According to a Bloomberg survey, the deficit in Chinese road maintenance funding has already reached about 50%. The Ministry of Transport of China states that approximately 40% of local roads need repairs, although there are not enough resources for all the works.
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Larger and heavier electric cars increase pressure on Chinese asphalt
The change in the profile of cars sold in China is clearly reflected in the data from the first half of 2026. According to the China Passenger Car Association, 60% of new models launched during this period exceeded five meters in length.
At the same time, only 2% of the launches measured less than 4.5 meters. The difference becomes even more significant when compared to the first half of 2025, when smaller cars represented 13% of the models presented.
This growth in dimensions directly affects the weight of the vehicles. Although large combustion-powered cars are also heavy, hybrid and fully electric models carry battery packs that significantly increase their mass.
Consequently, some electrified cars can easily exceed three tons. Thus, the frequent circulation of these vehicles accelerates pavement wear and increases the need for interventions on streets and highways.
Batteries increase vehicle weight and accelerate road deterioration
Batteries are one of the main reasons for the weight difference between electric cars and equivalent combustion-only models. The greater the desired range, the larger the battery pack tends to be installed in the vehicle.
Therefore, the demand for spacious, powerful cars with long range has a direct effect on urban infrastructure. Heavier vehicles exert more pressure on the pavement and can reduce the interval between maintenance sessions.
However, weight is not the only obstacle. The increase in the electrified fleet also changes the way the government finances road maintenance.
Workers and machines carry out the resurfacing of an avenue while vehicles circulate next to the construction.
Drop in fuel taxes reduces resources for road maintenance
Part of the money used for maintaining Chinese roads comes from taxes levied on gasoline and other fuels. When a driver switches to an electric car, they stop contributing through this traditional revenue.
With the growth in sales of electric and hybrid vehicles, this revenue source has started to decline. At the same time, repair expenses are increasing, mainly due to the weight and dimensions of the new vehicles.
The current deficit in maintaining Chinese roads reaches approximately 50%. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport reports that 40% of local roads need some type of repair.
However, the available budget does not keep up with the volume of necessary works. Thus, China needs to find new sources of funding to preserve the quality of its road network.
China reduces tax incentives for electric and hybrid cars
In response to the drop in revenue, one of the Chinese government’s responses involves the gradual reduction of incentives granted to so-called new energy vehicles.
Previously, the tax benefit for purchasing electric and hybrid cars reached 10%. Currently, the discount has been reduced to 5%, with a limit of 15,000 yuan.
The measure may help reduce the cost of public subsidies and expand the government’s financial capacity. However, it also represents a change in the policy that spurred the rapid growth of electrified vehicles in the country.
Furthermore, China has begun to discourage the production of excessively large automobiles. To this end, the government has adopted stricter energy consumption standards.
Standards require automakers to use lighter materials in vehicles
The new requirements pressure manufacturers to improve the efficiency of automobiles. Instead of simply increasing the size of the batteries, companies need to seek lighter materials and solutions capable of optimizing range.
This change attempts to prevent cars from continuing to grow in size and weight. At the same time, it seeks to reduce energy consumption and lessen the impact of vehicles on the streets.
Therefore, automakers face a more complex technical challenge. They need to offer range, comfort, and space without relying exclusively on larger and heavier batteries.
Chinese state media criticizes trend of increasingly larger cars
The discussion has also gained space in media outlets linked to the Chinese government. The official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party and the state broadcaster CCTV have started to criticize the expansion of excessively large automobiles.
According to these outlets, the models do not match the infrastructure of Chinese cities. Additionally, they occupy more space, consume more energy, and increase pressure on urban roads.
The criticisms also question whether the growth of cars truly represents technological innovation. For the state media, many manufacturers might just be responding to the market’s preference for larger automobiles.
The debate has moved beyond just road maintenance. It has also come to include urban planning, energy efficiency, and the future of the Chinese automotive industry.
The reduction in fuel revenues is not happening only in China. The United Kingdom faces a similar concern due to the increase in the circulation of electric automobiles.
In November 2025, British Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a new charge for these vehicles. Starting in 2028, electric car drivers will pay three pence per mile traveled.
Hybrid vehicle owners will pay half that amount. According to the British government, the charge applied to electric vehicles will correspond to approximately half of what combustion car drivers pay in taxes.
Mileage will be checked during mandatory vehicle inspection
The British charge will be calculated based on the distance traveled by the automobile. For this, the mileage will be checked during the mandatory vehicle inspection known as MOT.
The car’s own odometer will be used to determine how many miles have been driven. Thus, the government will be able to charge drivers according to the actual use of the roads.
According to the Office for Budget Responsibility, the expectation is that the new tax will generate 1.1 billion pounds during the fiscal year 2028–2029.
Growth of Electric Cars Requires New Ways to Finance Roads
The situation faced by China and the United Kingdom reveals a challenge that tends to grow as electric cars gain ground. Governments need to promote technologies less dependent on fossil fuels, but they must also preserve the sources of infrastructure funding.
In China, the problem becomes even more complex due to the size and weight of the new models. While electrified automobiles increase pressure on the pavement, revenue linked to fuel consumption decreases.
Therefore, the country has begun to reduce tax benefits, tighten efficiency standards, and discourage excessively large vehicles. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom decided to create a mileage-based charge.
Thus, the transition to electric cars involves not only batteries, range, and emission reduction. It also requires new rules to finance the streets and roads used by an increasingly larger and heavier fleet.