Electric vehicles release more toxic particles into the atmosphere and are worse for the environment than their gas-powered counterparts, according to a new study.
The study, published by the emissions data firm Emission Analytics, was published in 2022, but attracted a wave of attention this week after it was cited in a Wall Street Journal article on Sunday.
Electric car brakes and tires have been found to emit 1,850 times more particulate pollution than modern tailpipes that have “efficient” exhaust filters, setting new lows for emissions from gas-powered vehicles.
Today, most pollution associated with vehicles comes from tire wear.
As heavy cars run on light-duty tires — most often made of synthetic rubber made from crude oil and other fillers and additives — they deteriorate and release harmful chemicals into the air, according to Emission Analytics.
Because electric cars are on average 30% heavier, the brakes and tires of battery-powered cars wear out faster than those of standard cars.
The emissions analysis found that emissions from tire wear per half metric ton of battery weight in an EV are more than 400 times greater than direct particulate emissions from exhaust gases.
For reference, half a metric ton is equivalent to approximately 1,100 pounds. The most popular EV in the US, Tesla’s Model Y, boasts a lithium-ion battery that weighs an impressive 1,836 pounds.
Another sought-after electric model, Ford’s F-150 Lightning pickup, also has an estimated 1,800-pound battery pack.
The study casts doubt on the practicality of the Biden administration’s EV mandates, which tout electric cars as “zero-emission vehicles” in a bid to make two-thirds of new cars in America fully electric by 2032.
California lawmakers have similarly called electric cars “zero emissions” because they have no tailpipes, according to the Journal, which added that the label is “deceptive.”
Electric cars still use tires made from petroleum, which create particulate pollution as they wear.
Increased exposure to these toxins “may increase the risk of health problems such as heart disease, asthma and low birth weight,” according to the New York City Department of Health, which notes that pollution from sources including vehicle exhaust can travel great distances from its source and still cause health problems at unhealthy levels.
However, the California Air Agency used a model that assumed electric and gas vehicles had equal tire wear when analyzing the effects of the ban, according to the Journal.
The public was quick to spot the error, but the agency doubled down on its stance, saying it was “speculative” to assume electric cars would always be heavier than their gasoline counterparts.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) insisted in its “Final Statement of Reasons for Rulemaking” that automakers can “offset” the weight of heavy batteries by “reducing the weight of other components or the vehicle body.” although the agency did not specify how .
The Environmental Protection Agency also shared plans to raise emissions standards starting in the 2027 model year to force automakers to sell fewer and fewer gas-powered cars and even hybrids.
The Post sought comment from CARB and the Environmental Protection Agency.
