Even though they are regularly blamed for weight issues, the two electric cars ranking among the top 10 sellers weigh significantly less, with Tesla's Model Y at 2.4 tonnes and MG's ZS EV at 2.06 tonnes.
"If, for some unexpected reason, people decide to give up their HiLuxes for small electric ones, you would get a big reduction in weight but that's not coming from vehicle technology but consumer choice," he said.Rising vehicle weights are seen as a safety issue by some, Mr Christensen says, as greater weight makes vehicles harder to stop and brings more energy into accidents.
But Australian Electric Vehicle Association national president Dr Chris Jones says both manufacturers and policymakers should take action to reverse growing vehicle girth. The association has previously recommended a "mass multiplied" road user charge that see all drivers pay for how many kilometres they drive each year, multiplied by the weight of their vehicle.