As electric cars become more popular, their impact on city infrastructure is becoming clearer.
While fossil fuel cars are slowly being replaced, the growing number of electric vehicles (EVs) in Oslo is causing damage to the city's roads.
The weight of these vehicles, especially electric buses and cars, is putting increased strain on the road network, reports Boosted.
According to the City Environment Agency in Oslo, the rising number of EVs is linked to more road damage.
In their 2024 annual report, the agency pointed out that this trend is making it harder to maintain the city's road system.
As the number of electric cars and buses increases, the wear and tear on the roads is becoming more significant.
The agency’s director, Gerd Robsahm Kjørven, stated that road maintenance efforts are struggling to keep up with the growing demand.
The city’s roads have been in bad shape for years. A report from 2021 by Multiconsult revealed that the condition of the roads had worsened annually since 2009.
At that time, it was estimated that 28% of the roads needed upgrading. The Oslo city council has developed a plan to address these issues, but political party Venstre has criticized the lack of clear actions in this plan.
One of the biggest factors contributing to the road damage is the weight of electric vehicles.
Due to their large batteries, EVs are much heavier than regular gas and diesel cars. As more people switch to electric cars, the stress on Oslo’s infrastructure is increasing.
This leads to a growing need for repairs and upgrades, which the city is struggling to fund. The current situation means that repairs are happening slower than necessary, leaving roads in worse condition.
The cost of maintaining the roads is also rising. A 2021 estimate put the road maintenance backlog in Oslo at 475 million Danish kroner.
The city is expected to reassess this situation in 2025. For now, the city council is exploring ways to fund repairs, including possibly increasing road tolls in Oslo.
However, no concrete plans have been approved yet. The City Environment Agency has stressed the need for a long-term strategy to ensure that roads can handle the growing electric vehicle traffic.
