🔆Environmental Impact of Electric Vehicles (EVs) ✅ Climate Benefit of EVs: • EVs help eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, playing a crucial role against climate change. ✅ Air Pollution Concern: • Recent study shows EVs may worsen air pollution due to increased tyre wear from their greater weight. ✅ Study Details: • Conducted by TIFR, IIT Bombay, and a US university. • Established how vehicle weight and speed affect the size of plastic particles released from tyre wear. ✅ Tyre Particle Pollution: • Tyre wear emits microplastic and nanoplastic particles into the air. • Two degradation types: • Primary fragmentation: Larger particles from sudden braking or potholes. • Sequential fragmentation: Smaller airborne particles from prolonged use and friction. ✅ Heavier Vehicles, Higher Emissions: • EVs are 15–20% heavier (300–900 kg batteries) than petrol/diesel cars. • Faster acceleration causes more tyre stress, friction, and heat. • Heavier, faster vehicles release more and smaller airborne particles, increasing pollution. ✅ Global Implications: • With EV sales at 20% globally in 2024, this pollution concern is worldwide. • Calls for revisiting assumptions on EVs’ environmental friendliness. ✅ Policy and Technological Responses: • Current air quality norms (PM2.5, PM10) don’t cover fine tyre particles—standards need updating. • R&D needed for tyres suited to heavier EVs. • Possible solutions include: • Capturing tyre particles at release points. • Improving road quality to reduce fragmentation. #environment #evs