🔆 Key Takeaways: Climate Benefit and Pollution Concerns of EVs ✅ Climate Benefit of EVs: • Electric vehicles (EVs) help eliminate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and thus play a crucial role in combating climate change. ✅ Air Pollution Concern with EVs: • A recent study shows that EVs may worsen air pollution due to increased tyre wear, caused by their greater weight. ✅ Study Details: • Conducted by researchers from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), IIT Bombay, and an American university. • Established the relationship between the weight and speed of a vehicle to the size of the plastic particles released from tyres as a result of wear and tear. ✅ Tyre Particle Pollution: • Tyre wear releases microplastic and nanoplastic particles into the atmosphere. • Two primary processes of degradation: ▪ Primary fragmentation: Releases larger particles due to sudden braking or potholes. ▪ Sequential fragmentation: Releases smaller, more airborne particles due to prolonged use and increased friction. ✅ Heavier Vehicles, Higher Emissions: • EVs are 15–20% heavier than petrol/diesel cars due to their batteries (300–900 kg). • EVs are also able to accelerate more rapidly. This can lead to additional stress on the tyres due to increased friction and heat generation. • Heavier and faster vehicles produce more and smaller airborne particles, worsening air pollution. ✅ Global Implications: • As EV adoption rises globally (20% of new car sales in 2024), this issue has worldwide relevance. • Highlights need to revisit conventional assumptions about the environmental friendliness of EVs. ✅ Policy and Technological Responses: • Existing air quality norms (PM2.5, PM10) may not cover finer tyre particles; standards need revision. • Need for R&D in tyre design to suit heavier EVs. • Possible technological solutions: ▪ Capturing tyre particles at the point of release. ▪ Enhancing road quality to reduce fragmentation.