In 2022, the average weight of a new vehicle sold in America was 4,329 pounds. Compare that to 1980, where the weight was about 1,000 pounds less. There are two trends at work here. Number 1 is the movement in America toward larger and heavier SUVs and trucks. And then you have the move to electric vehicles, which can add 1,000+ pounds to the weight of the vehicle. Heavier cars and trucks may in theory protect their occupants more in the event of an accident, and they afford us the ability to cart around more stuff and people, but they come at a cost: they inflict more damage in case of an accident, they quicken the deterioration of our roads and infrastructure, and they burn more energy hauling around all that extra weight. As we move to EVs, might it be time to think about slimming down?