The benefits of switching to electric vehicles are being debated by various groups of experts. Some talk about the environmental damage caused by the production and disposal of traction batteries and the generation of electricity to charge them using hydrocarbon fuel. Others find rather unexpected factors; It turns out that the increased tire wear of electric cars also harms the environment.

Representatives of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), cited by the Nikkei Asian Review, reached similar conclusions. According to the primary source, the increased mass of electric vehicles due to the presence of heavy traction batteries in their design contributes to more active tire wear during operation. At the same time, small rubber mixture systems are released into the air, which can enter the human body through the respiratory tract and cause some diseases.

The results of the OECD study show that the mass of tire wear products released per kilometer in electric cars is on average 30% higher than in similarly sized cars with internal combustion engines. This ratio is maintained both when accounting for particles up to 10 μm in diameter and when accounting for particles up to 2.5 μm in diameter. Japanese experts warn that automakers should pay more attention to the environmental consequences of using electric cars. It can become dirty from wear and tear products of both tires and brake mechanisms. The increased mass and improved dynamics of electric cars can contribute to more intense wear of brake pads, which can only be partially compensated by the use of recuperation when the vehicle is slowed down by switching the traction electric motors into power generation mode. .

Electric cars already require the use of special tires to achieve greater efficiency in electricity consumption; These types of tires reduce rolling resistance. According to experts, if special attention is paid to increasing wear resistance, this will increase manufacturers’ costs and the final price of tires.