The study was conducted by Emission Analytics, a firm specialising in emissions data analysis and challenged the existing belief
The study found that brakes and tyres on EVs release 1,850 times more particle pollution.
As more people become concerned about climate change, there is a growing interest in environment-friendly transportation options. Many people believe that electric vehicles (EVs) are better for the environment than traditional petrol and diesel cars because they produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
However, a recent study by Emission Analytics, a firm that analyses emissions data, challenges this idea. The study, featured in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, brings attention to the problem of particle pollution originating from brakes and tires in both electric and fossil fuel powered cars.
The key finding is that EVs, due to their heavier weight, may release significantly more particulate matter from brakes and tyres compared to modern gas-powered vehicles with efficient exhaust filters. The study suggests this could be 1,850 times greater.
The study claims that tyre wear emissions from an EV with a half-tonne (1,100 pounds) battery could be over 400 times higher than exhaust emissions from a modern petrol car.
Key Revelations-
The study revealed that since electric cars have a heavier weight, they may emit higher levels of particulate matter from the brakes and tires compared to petrol or diesel-run cars equipped with efficient exhaust filters. According to the study, this disparity could be as much as 1,850 times greater.
Emission Analytics underscores the concern over tire wear, attributing it to the heavier weight of EVs which accelerates tyre deterioration and releases chemicals in the atmosphere. This degradation is primarily linked to the synthetic rubber composition of most tyres, derived from crude oil.
Another significant aspect highlighted in the report is the impact of weight of batteries on the EVs, as they typically feature heavier batteries compared to traditional petrol engines.
The study provides examples such as the Tesla Model Y and Ford F-150 Lightning, both equipped with batteries weighing approximately 1,800 pounds. While the study conducts that tire wear emissions from an EV with a half-tonne battery could exceed exhaust emissions from a modern petrol car by over 400 times.