CSE EXAM ( UPSC prelims mains) CAPF

🔆 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.

www.tg-me.com/us/CSE EXAM UPSC prelims mains CAPF/com.CSE_EXAM/42770

5.2K viewsJun 3 at 00:14

🔆 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.

BY CSE EXAM ( UPSC prelims mains) CAPF