Electric car tires… Invisible environmental and health damage!

2023-07-22 19:02:54

22.07.2023

With the trend towards electric cars to confront climate change, another problem arises, which is represented in the emissions resulting from the tires of electric cars and the flying particles from them, which in turn pose several environmental and health risks. So what is the solution?

Tires are the only point of friction between the car and the road, performing more tasks than many people can imagine. Tires are characterized by their ability to control the road, enabling the driver to control the car, including acceleration, cornering, stopping the car without skidding, and maintaining fuel efficiency.

Car tire manufacturers believe that manufacturing ideal tires that balance performance, endurance and durability is a difficult task, while the difficulty is increasing with the entry of electric cars into service.

Because the batteries inside Electric cars It is heavier than the batteries of cars that run on fossil fuels, for example, the electric car “i-Golf” manufactured by the German auto giant Volkswagen is regarding 400 kilograms heavier than the “Golf 7” gas-powered car manufactured by the same company.

Therefore, electric cars need strong tires, as these cars need more torque compared to running cars with fossil fuels.

Faced with these challenges, major tire manufacturers are improving tire designs and innovating new chemical compounds to meet the needs of electric vehicles. The matter is almost different for the manufacture of tires for electric cars and used tires for electric cars and traditional.

In a statement to DW, a spokesperson for tire maker Continental said, “We have been improving our product range for a long time, particularly with regard to tire life, rolling resistance and rolling noise reduction, which are factors of particular benefit for electric vehicles.”

Studies have revealed that car tire wear is one of the sources of microplastics in the environment

6 million tons of tire particles

With regard to the impact of car use on the environment, the focus is on: air pollution due to exhaust, but tires also contribute to environmental pollution.

Over time, the tires wear down to get rid of small particles that may settle in the air if they can be inhaled or settle on the soil near the road.

In an interview with DW, Nick Mauldin, founder and CEO of Emissions Analytics, a company that specializes in analyzing the environmental impact of cars, said that tire use may be “the hardest problem for car manufacturers. With so many other pollutants, they can be effectively trapped with a filter or a catalyst, but you can’t do that with tires because they’re open.”

A study conducted by the company indicated that one car drops an average of four kilograms of dirt tire particles annually, which means a total of 6 million tons of tire particulate matter per year worldwide.

In this, Mauldin said, “We measure the amount of solids that come out of the exhaust pipe while we measure the particles that fly out of the tires. And we found that every year the amount that comes out of the exhaust pipe decreases and the tires increase because the cars are getting heavier.”

The company compared emissions from Tesla electric car of the Model Y and the Kia Niro to find that tire wear emissions in Teslas were 26% higher than those of Kia cars.

environmental hazard

The pollution resulting from the volatilization of some tire particles causes two major environmental health problems, as if these particles fall into the waterways, they may be an important source of oceanic microplastics. In the event that these particles fly into the air, they may interact with the atmosphere to form the so-called “smog”, which poses a threat to human health.

In this context, it should be noted that the compound 6PPD is one of the organic chemical components used in the manufacture of tires to prevent their damage, but it is a water-soluble compound that may contribute to pollution of the marine environment, as it was linked to the death of large quantities of salmon fish.

Other studies revealed that edible plants such as lettuce can absorb this compound, which has also been found in human urine.

In a statement to DW, the company said Manufacture of automobile tires Bridgestone said, “The tire industry’s mission is to provide a safe and comfortable ride with peace of mind, so adding 6PPD to tires is indispensable today.”

Suggested solutions

It is noteworthy that the phasing out of cars that run on fossil fuels is required in order to face the repercussions of climate change, but if this will be accompanied by a deterioration in emissions from tires or an increase in volatile particles, then this will be a major problem.

In an interview with DW, climate activist Tadzio Mueller said the solution lies in selling fewer cars. Transformation aims towards Electric cars To convince us that this will save the planet, but of course it cannot be achieved because the problem exists and is represented by capitalist growth.”

Asked if this would be the best solution to the environmental impacts of tyres, Molden said: “Yes, it will reduce tire emissions, but it’s not good for the economy, so is it worth it?”

“It is better to create a market mechanism that pushes tire manufacturers to… Make larger investments With the aim of reaching the best compounds”, pointing out that the leading European companies in the tire industry are generally better than other companies.

Car experts advise drivers to avoid rapid starting and immediate stopping, as this leads to reduced tire wear, while preferring to use tires until the end of their life span, because new tires produce twice as many particles during the first two thousand kilometers.

Paul Krantz/M. p

Passion for cars – what has changed people’s tastes in more than a century?

A symbol of luxury

Before World War II, cars were considered a symbol of luxury, and there were very few people who might afford a car. Even though there are now a large number of cars, expensive luxury cars as a status symbol of a person are in demand to this day. With a beautiful car, people want to stand out in public and it is for many people part of the exterior, as much as the clothes.

Passion for cars – what has changed people’s tastes in more than a century?

sign of prosperity

After World War II, cars began to be mass-produced. Therefore, an increasing number of people might own a car, and the angel car became a sign of achieved prosperity and was loved and cared for by its owners. It is also a sign of prosperity to travel on vacation, preferably outside Germany. Traffic jams, for example here on the motorway towards Holland in August 1964, were accepted with ease.

Passion for cars – what has changed people’s tastes in more than a century?

The association of the car with sexual arousal

Secret agent 007’s Aston Martin impressed in the 1960s movie with its looks, speed and technical sophistication. The handsome James Bond (played by Sean Connery) and his beautiful co-stars exude cosmopolitan elegance. The link between cars, sexual excitement, and people’s desires has become entrenched in many minds and still affects car-buying decisions today.

Passion for cars – what has changed people’s tastes in more than a century?

car to find a partner

The front end of this car appears like the face and the headlights like the eyes. This geometry aroused many feelings. In the seventies and eighties, the Opel Manta was loved by those who wanted to play James Bond. They were feeling too masculine and wanted to attract women’s attention. More than a million Manta cars have been sold. But there were also sarcastic jokes regarding this car.

Passion for cars – what has changed people’s tastes in more than a century?

Feelings of happiness with the color red

Prominent curves, bright red paint, powerful engines, and a thumping engine roar on acceleration make some feel happy and convinced they are superior to others. And when driving at high speed and overtaking others quickly, the adrenaline rush increases in the blood, and this particularly impresses men.

Passion for cars – what has changed people’s tastes in more than a century?

Music stars with expensive cars

Pop singer Elton John is crazy regarding cars and has invested many millions in owning expensive cars. And in 2001, he offered some of his favorite cars at auction, because he “didn’t have enough time” to drive them. the star who appears with cars such as Jaguar (photo), Rolls-Royce or Porsche; It supports the prestige of the car and at the same time benefits from the image of the car. This captures the zeitgeist and influences generations.

Passion for cars – what has changed people’s tastes in more than a century?

dominant appearance

Larger cars make drivers feel safer and make other drivers feel afraid. It is not uncommon for this to cause accidents. This often leads to an increase in the presence of large-sized cars on the roads, as some drivers of small cars resort to choosing larger cars when buying a second car.

Passion for cars – what has changed people’s tastes in more than a century?

Manifestations of condemnation

At the International Motor Show in Frankfurt in 2007, Chancellor Angela Merkel and Martin Ventkorn, Chairman of Volkswagen, appear facing the photographers’ lenses. The white color of the Volkswagen Up represents light, enlightenment and innocence, while sitting on one’s knees reflects submission and glorification. The picture shows an almost religious glorification as well as the deep connection between the automobile, the economy and politics; The automobile industry is considered an important economic factor globally.

Passion for cars – what has changed people’s tastes in more than a century?

The car as an icon

Motion artist Ha Schulte designed the golden car with wings in front of Cologne Cathedral in 1991 as a symbol of a bygone era. A car The Ford Fiesta is part of his “hot car” artwork and is still installed in the same location to this day. Schulte says the car has now lost its icon status. And some critics saw the artwork, along with the decline of the car era, as a publicity stunt for Ford.

Passion for cars – what has changed people’s tastes in more than a century?

electrical innovation

Tesla produced this two-seater between 2008 and 2011 with lithium batteries. With a range of 350 km, the car is the first modern electric car that helped electric cars make their way globally and produce an innovative image. Electric cars, meanwhile, are stylish and environmentally friendly.

Passion for cars – what has changed people’s tastes in more than a century?

Riding a bike will be more fun

People feel privileged with expensive cars, while those who use a bicycle have long been considered poor. But this situation has changed. Electric and modern bikes are getting more attention. Today, whoever uses a bicycle is considered an athletic, environmentally friendly and attractive person. And beautiful cars still impress, but even electric bikes like the one in the picture are a means of transportation that finds full approval. Prepared by: Guero Roter/M.A.M

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