Texas Guardrails Are Not Ready For Heavy Electric Vehicles

There are several things that electric vehicles (EVs) are exceptionally good at. If used for a daily commute, they could save you money on gas in the long term.

They usually include many tech features that keep you safer on the highway. EVs can even drive themselves in many scenarios.

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Most EVs also have very high crash test ratings, keeping their occupants safe in the event of an accident. So where is the issue?

Existing Texas Infrastructure Not Built For Heavier Electric Vehicles

When EVs first hit the market, they were usually sedans or small compact cars. Now they are making large SUVs and pickup trucks. The weight of these vehicles has brought our current infrastructure into question.

A 2025 Chevrolet Silverado, arguably a large truck, can weigh between 4,410 to 5,700 lbs. Compare that to the 2025 GMC Hummer EV Pickup weighing roughly 10,000 lbs and you can see where that concern comes from.

Plus those batteries lower the center of gravity for these vehicles. It's touted as a feature until you realize that the heaviest part of the vehicle is at guardrail level.

CBCK-Christine

Heavy EVs Could Punch Though Guardrails

Even if you survive the crash, if you punch right through the guardrail and into a deep ravine, the outcomes would not be great. According to CBSNews.com guardrails and other roadside barriers are designed to handle vehicles around 5,000lbs.

A guardrail works by containing a vehicle and redirecting it to the road surface. According to a test by the Texas Transportation Institute, these guardrails failed when an electric sedan hit it.

With more and more EVs coming to market, something must be done to upgrade the guardrails on Texas highways.