The Chinese authorities want electric cars to be more flexible, after several years in which the demand for larger batteries and more space and features contributed to a significant increase in the size and weight of passenger cars, reported China Central Television (CCTV), reported by the Bloomberg and Agerpres agencies.
In a report broadcast on Sunday, CCTV reported that a typical electric car in China will weigh 1,704 kg in 2024, about a third more than in 2012. Electric family vehicles have also grown in width over the years, with many popular MPVs now approaching or exceeding 2 meters in width.
This trend has attracted the attention of the authorities, as larger vehicles put pressure on existing infrastructure.
According to CCTV, some electric cars are becoming too large for parking spaces designed according to standards introduced a decade ago. One vehicle measured by the public broadcaster was almost 2.3 meters wide, compared to the current standard parking space width of 2.4 metres.
Some models of electric vehicles are marketed as mobile living spaces
One of the factors behind this increase in size is the increasing autonomy of electric cars. Some manufacturers market vehicles capable of traveling up to 1,000 km on a single charge, which can require batteries weighing up to 800 kg, according to experts quoted by CCTV.
Automakers have also added more comfort and lifestyle features to stand out in China's crowded EV market. Some models are marketed as mobile living spaces where users can work, watch videos, drink coffee and rest, and some even have in-car toilets.
The authorities in Beijing have already begun to respond to these trends.
On January 1, 2026, a mandatory national standard came into force that prohibits the production, sale or registration of new models of electric vehicles that do not meet energy consumption requirements, in an attempt to limit the increasing size and weight of electric cars.
