The article Why electric cars don’t cause more tire wear than combustion engines first appeared in the online magazine BASIC thinking. With our newsletter UPDATE you can start the day well informed every morning.
Electric cars are considered a key technology for sustainable mobility. However, production processes, the type of power source and the extraction of lithium have a major influence on the climate footprint of electric vehicles. As with combustion engines, tire wear also poses an environmental impact. Some even claim that electric cars real tire eaters are. A commentary analysis.
Environmental problem tire wear
- In the first two years of their life cycle, electric cars produce around 30 percent more CO2 than combustion engines. The main reasons are complex manufacturing processes and the promotion of lithium for batteries. According to one current study If the balance turns over after two years: from then on they are Emissions from electric cars are lower than those from combustion engines. However, the issue of tire wear usually doesn’t play a role.
- According to the Federal Environment Agency Around 100,000 tons of tire wear are produced in Germany every year. This corresponds to around a third of the total microplastics produced. A large part of it ends up in the ground or in our waterways. Besides the negative consequences for the environment We also absorb the microplastics, for example when we eat fish or ground vegetables.
- Tire manufacturer According to Michelin Tires for electric cars wear out 20 percent faster than for combustion engines. Some analyzes even assume up to 50 percent out of. The main reasons for this are usually the high Torque of electric motorswhich produces peak performance immediately, as well as the higher weight due to heavier batteries.
Why electric cars don’t cause more tire wear
Electric cars are more sustainable and less harmful to the climate than combustion engines. Research largely agrees on this point – especially as the share of renewable energies in the electricity mix is increasing.
When it comes to tire wear, the… Research on electric cars but thin. To date, there are no comprehensive, cross-model studies that take enough parameters into account to draw a clear picture. However, the high torque of electric vehicles is likely to play a minor role at best.
Because there are numerous drive components between the engine and the wheel, so this is not transmitted directly to the road. In addition, the torque in electric cars is available evenly, which is why wheel spin rarely occurs. Ultimately, the decisive factor is Vreceived at the accelerator pedal.
The often higher weight of electric cars is likely to have more of an impact on tire wear, as electric vehicles are between Weigh 300 to 500 kilograms more than combustion engines. The truth is that vehicles with higher weight also have corresponding tires, which is why the drive lies primarily in the tire itself.
Voices
- Nick Molden, head of audit firm Emissions Analyticsopposite that Guardian: “Tires are increasingly replacing exhaust as the primary source of emissions. There are hundreds of chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic. When you multiply that by overall wear rates, you get some very frightening numbers in terms of the amounts released.”
- The initiative Plastic in the environment in one Blog post: “Every year, around 1.2 kilograms of tire abrasion per German citizen, i.e. particles created by car tires rubbing on the road surface, enter the environment. This puts tire abrasion in first place among microplastic emissions.”
- Martin Gießler from the KIT Institute for Vehicle System Technology (FAST). in one statement: “In order to reduce abrasion and comply with the new limit values, we need to research more closely how abrasion occurs and how, for example, the weight of the vehicle or the type of tire affect the amount of abrasion.”
Tires and drivers decide on wear
Tire manufacturers and start-ups have been working on this for a long time High-tech tires, abrasion guards and filters that are intended to ensure that as few microplastics as possible end up in the environment. Research is an important step in this.
With the introduction of the Euro 7 standard will also be the first time Particulate emissions limits from tire abrasion and corresponding test methods are defined. The further development of vehicles, drives and batteries is also likely to have positive effects.
Microplastics in the form of tire wear still occur big problem for people and the environment – both from electric cars and combustion engines. Ultimately, it’s not the engine that decides, but the driver – especially with his right foot.
Also interesting:
- Instagram and Facebook: Meta covers up study on psychological damage
- Shopping Research: ChatGPT becomes a purchasing advisor
- Origin information on X exposes Trump accounts from Africa
- Biggest data leak of all time: 3.5 billion WhatsApp users affected
The article Why electric cars don’t cause more tire wear than combustion engines appeared first on BASIC thinking. Follow us too Google News and Flipboard or subscribe to our newsletter UPDATE.
As a Tech Industry expert, I can confidently say that electric cars do not cause more tire wear than combustion engines for several reasons.
Firstly, electric cars typically have regenerative braking systems that help to reduce wear on the tires. This system allows the car to recover energy when slowing down, which can help to reduce the amount of braking required and therefore decrease the wear on the tires.
Secondly, electric cars often have a more even distribution of weight, which can help to reduce tire wear. Combustion engine cars tend to have a heavier front end due to the engine, which can lead to uneven tire wear. Electric cars, on the other hand, often have a more balanced weight distribution due to the placement of the batteries, resulting in more even tire wear.
Lastly, electric cars tend to have smoother acceleration and deceleration compared to combustion engine cars, which can also help to reduce tire wear. The instant torque provided by electric motors allows for more controlled and consistent driving, which can result in less stress on the tires.
Overall, the design and driving characteristics of electric cars contribute to lower tire wear compared to combustion engine cars, making them a more sustainable and cost-effective option in the long run.
Credits