According to a new study, electric vehicles emit more toxic particles into the atmosphere than gasoline-powered vehicles, making them more harmful to the environment.
The study, published by emissions data firm Emission Analytics in 2022, has attracted attention this week after it was reported in a Wall Street Journal article on Sunday.
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Electric vehicle brakes and tires have been found to release 1,850 times more particulate pollution than modern exhausts with “efficient” exhaust filters. This has resulted in emissions from natural gas vehicles being reduced to new lows.
Therefore, the greatest pollution caused by vehicles is due to tire wear.
As heavy vehicles run on lightweight tires, which are usually made from synthetic rubber that includes low-quality fuel, Emission Analytics claims that these tires support harmful chemical emissions into the air.
Because electric vehicles are on average 30% heavier, the brakes and tires on battery- wear out faster than on conventional cars.
For example, half a ton is equivalent to about 1500 kg. Model Y , the popular EV in the US, has a lithium-ion battery that weighs 800 kg.
Another sought-after electric model, Ford, also has a battery weighing about 800 pounds.
The study questions the feasibility of Biden’s executive order on electric cars, which are being promoted as “zero-emission vehicles.” The goal is for two-thirds of new cars in America to be fully electric by 2032.
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California politicians have similarly claimed that electric vehicles produce “zero emissions” because they have no tailpipes, according to the magazine.
Although electric cars use tires made from petroleum, which cause particulate pollution when disposed of, moving towards more sustainable solutions is a priority for the industry.
However, as Nick Molden, founder and CEO of Emissions Analytics, told the New York Post, “this will not be a barrier to electrification.”.
But there is a solution. Right now, the political agenda is focused on reducing climate change. Electric vehicles can reduce CO2 emissions by around 50% — a development that also affects climate change.
"Electric vehicles have the disadvantage of increasing particulate pollution. Air pollution affects the quality of the air we breathe and has health implications," Molden said. He said that toxins from tires have a smaller impact on the climate compared to what we consume.
High exposure to these toxins can increase the risk of health problems, such as heart disease, asthma and low birth weight, according to the New York State Department of Health.
"A lot of (chemicals) go into the soil and water, affecting animals and fish. And then we go and eat the animals and fish, so we ingest the tire pollution," Mr Molden added.
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"Tires are made up of a lot of nasty chemicals.".
Nick Molden said that “the best first thing to do to address this problem is to “change the recipe, minimize a number of toxic chemicals in the tires — then you have the best of both worlds.
However, the California airline used a model that assumes electric and natural gas vehicles cause the same tire wear when analyzing the effects of the ban.
Despite the immediate public backlash, the organization reaffirms its position, stating that it is "evasive" to claim that electric cars will be heavier than gasoline-powered cars.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) insists that automakers can “offset” the weight of heavy batteries by “reducing weight in other components or even in the body itself,” without explaining how.
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The Environmental Protection Agency also unveiled plans to upgrade emissions standards starting with the 2027 model year, aiming to force automakers to sell fewer natural gas-powered cars, including hybrids.
Source: news.com.au
