EV Tire-Wear Emissions 1,850 Times More Than Particulate Emissions By Petrol, Diesel Cars, Finds Study

EV Tire-Wear Emissions 1,850 Times More Than Particulate Emissions By Petrol, Diesel Cars, Says Study

Electric Vehicles (EV) are causing pollution through tire-wear emissions which are 1,850 times more than particulate mass emissions caused by petrol and diesel-powered vehicles, an analysis by Emission Analytics found in its report. The added weight of these vehicles might lead to tire wear emissions that might confound the ‘zero emissions’ tag.

The study was transparently designed to quantify the worst-case tire emissions under legal driving, Emissions Analytics tested and analysed tire wear emissions in more detail across a wider range of driving conditions, and has performed a detailed chemical analysis of hundreds of new tires. Furthermore, we have worked with the National Physical Laboratory in the UK objectively to quantify the uncertainties in our measurements of chemical composition.

The conclusion it drew was that comparing real-world tailpipe particulate mass emissions to tire wear emissions, both in ‘normal’ driving, the latter is actually around 1,850 times greater than the former.

The fundamental trends that drive this ratio are: tailpipe particulate emissions are much lower on new cars, and tire wear emissions increase with vehicle mass and aggressiveness of driving style. Tailpipe emissions are falling over time, as exhaust filters become more efficient and with the prospect of extending the measurement of particulates, while tire wear emissions are rising as vehicles become heavier and added power and torque are placed at the driver’s disposal.

The excess emissions under aggressive driving should alert us to a risk with BEVs: greater vehicle mass and torque delivered can lead to rapidly increasing tire particulate emissions. Half a tonne of battery weight can result in tire emissions that are almost 400 times greater than real-world tailpipe emissions.

An important difference between tire and tailpipe particle emissions is that most of the former are understood to go straight to soil and water, whereas most of the latter is suspended in the air for a period, and therefore negatively affect air quality, stated the analysis. Growing scientific evidence suggests that these ultrafine particles more easily enter the human bloodstream and lungs, and cross into the brain.