Greener Living
American Cars Are Developing a Serious Weight Problem
The average new vehicle in the US has gained 175 pounds in the past three years, bloating made worse by the transition to electric models.
The Ram 1500 Revolution electric pickup has an estimated curb weigh of 7,500 pounds.
Photographer: Bridget Bennett/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The average weight of a new vehicle sold in the US last year was a whopping 4,329 pounds.
That’s over 1,000 pounds higher than the average in 1980, and up about 175 pounds in just the last three years. Essentially, more than a third of the average American car has been added in the past 40 years, a trend now exacerbated by the switch to electric models.