Why are new energy vehicles collectively "gaining weight"?

According to statistics on insurance data for motor vehicles, the average curb weight of new energy passenger cars in China reached 1939.3 kilograms from January to April 2026, an increase of 27.5% compared to 2020. Zhou Wei, Senior Director of the Green Low-Carbon and Tax Policy Research Department of the China Automotive Strategy and Policy Research Center, cited the latest data confirming this phenomenon. Within just a few years, the weight has increased by over 400 kilograms. What are the reasons behind this? Research by journalists has found that this is the result of multiple factors such as market demand and technological development. The power battery system, as the key for energy storage and supply in new energy vehicles, is the main source of this weight increase, with the weight of the battery pack often several times that of the engine. Intuitively, for example, a medium-sized sedan of the same brand and model, the weight of the internal combustion engine version is around 1600 kilograms, while the pure electric version exceeds 2000 kilograms.