Webinar: EV Weight: Is it an Issue for Design Loads?-Webinar: EV Weight: Is It an Issue for Design Loads?

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In the first Post-Tension Institute webinar of 2025, the focus was on evaluating the effects of electric vehicle (EV) weights on parking structure design. The speakers, Kyle Boyd, Leslie Jo Hertz, and Rashid Amid, discussed how the design vehicle, representing the 85th percentile of vehicle weights, has remained relatively stable over time, despite the rise in EV sales. They emphasized that although EVs are typically heavier than internal combustion engine vehicles, the current design vehicle weight is sufficiently robust for engineering purposes. <br /><br />Key discussions included the history and evaluation of live load standards in parking structures, with Rashid noting that even with the increasing prevalence of EVs and their potentially higher horizontal impact forces due to faster acceleration, there is currently no need to revise load standards upwards. Additionally, they explored future trends in adaptive reuse of parking structures, indicating that economic and design constraints often outweigh the desire for such conversions. <br /><br />Future PTI webinars will focus on topics like the evaluation of existing post-tension concrete structures and the new ACI PTI 320-25 joint code. The presenters encouraged ongoing engagement to stay informed on industry advancements.

Keywords

Post-Tension Institute

electric vehicles

parking structure design

vehicle weights

live load standards

adaptive reuse

post-tension concrete

ACI PTI 320-25

industry advancements