Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of heavier electric vehicles on (1) the maintenance of roads across the country, and (2) the budgets needed going forward to maintain safe road surfaces.

The increasing weight of all road vehicles, both electric vehicles (EVs) and their petrol and diesel counterparts, is one of many factors affecting the condition of our roads. While EVs tend to be heavier than their equivalent petrol or diesel counterpart, on average all passenger cars have been increasing in weight for many years. This trend has been driven by consumer choice and improving safety features for passengers. It is the much heavier commercial vehicles, rather than passenger vehicles, that are the dominant factor determining road design and weight limits, and that cause the most wear and tear to road surfaces and other highway structures.

The Government is determined to enable local highway authorities in England to look after their highway networks, and it has already announced a funding uplift of £500 million for the 2025/26 financial year. It has also started the process of updating its guidance to local highway authorities on managing their highway infrastructure, and the revised guidance will reflect, where necessary, the impacts on local highway networks of new vehicle types as well as other changes such as the changing climate.

The Department is also committed to securing multi-year funding settlements for local authorities, to enable them to plan ahead more strategically for the long term, and to invest in appropriate materials and maintenance processes.