Reporter | Zhou Chunlin
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It’s common knowledge that car exhaust emissions will cause air pollution, but now, maybe everyone should pay attention to another type of pollution-the latest research shows , The pollutants caused by car tire wear are more than 1,000 times more serious than exhaust emissions.
Emission Analytics, an independent testing organization that measures and analyzes the emissions and fuel efficiency of passenger cars, commercial vehicles and non-road machinery, recently reached the above conclusion in a study.
The agency pointed out that harmful particles generated by tires and brake systems have become an increasingly serious environmental problem, and the increasing popularity of large vehicles such as SUVs and electric vehicles equipped with heavy batteries has exacerbated this phenomenon. .
It is worth pointing out that at present, there is no regulation in any country that restricts the particulate matter produced by the wear of automobile tires and brake systems.
With the implementation of Euro VI and China VI exhaust emission regulations, the exhaust emissions of new cars are actually at a fairly low level. Concerned experts have intensified concerns about non-exhaust emissions (NEEs).
Non-exhaust emissions refer to the particulate matter generated by brake wear, tire wear, road wear, and road dust resuspension during the driving process. Currently, there is no legislation to limit the generation of non-exhaust emissions, but they have actually caused a huge impact on the air.
The British Government’s Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG) pointed out in the 2019 report "Non-Exhaust Emissions from Road Traffic" that current vehicles contribute 60% of PM2.5 in the air and 73% of PM10. The agency recommends that even for zero-emission vehicles, such as electric vehicles, their non-exhaust emissions should be immediately recognized as a source of particulate matter in the air.
To show the severity of the problem, Emission Analytics conducted some preliminary tire wear tests. They chose a brand new home hatchback model to ensure that the tires, brake system, and exhaust system are all new products in the best condition. In the
test, the vehicle emitted 5.8 grams of particulate matter per kilometer. Compared with the European limit of 4.5 milligrams per kilometer of exhaust particulate matter, the above-mentioned unregulated non-exhaust particulate matter is 1288 times more. The agency pointed out that if the tire pressure is low or encounter a road with a rougher surface, the data will be more ugly.
Emission Analytics CEO Nick Molden pointed out that the challenge facing the automotive industry and regulators is that the above conclusions are a blind spot for consumers. This means that if relevant regulations are enacted, the cost of vehicles will increase in order to meet the regulations, and consumers may not be willing to pay for them.
He called: "Whether it is to use higher-quality tires or reduce this non-exhaust emissions through lightweight cars, we all need to pay attention to this issue. In addition, relevant regulations must be formulated as soon as possible."
