EV tires' emissions health risks

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【Summary】Summary: Electric vehicles (EVs) may have eliminated tailpipe emissions, but their tires are causing concern due to the particulate emissions they generate. As EVs are heavier, the tires wear out quickly, releasing microscopic rubber particles into the environment. These particles, including a chemical called 6PPD, have been linked to environmental pollution and health risks for living beings, such as premature deaths of salmon.

FutureCar Staff Sep 02, 2023 9:19 AM PT

Buyers of Rivian's electric pickup and SUV have been voicing a common complaint on online forums - the tires wear out too quickly. One driver from Colorado loaded his truck with two motorcycles and embarked on a road trip. After traveling approximately 6,000 miles, he noticed that nearly a tenth of an inch of rubber had worn off his front tires. This means that tiny particles of rubber are now scattered somewhere along his route. Interestingly, other electric vehicle buyers are also reporting similar experiences.

While electric vehicles (EVs) have successfully eliminated tailpipe emissions, they are inadvertently contributing to another form of pollution that is becoming a growing concern for scientists and environmentalists. This pollution is directly related to the heavy weight of EVs.

It has long been known that tires emit pollution as they roll across pavement. The process of abrasion causes tiny particles of rubber and other materials to separate from the tires. Over time, these particles - some of which are as small as a human cell - find their way into the air, water, and even living beings. In Washington state, scientists have discovered a chemical called 6PPD, which is used in all tires to prevent cracking. This chemical has been linked to the premature deaths of salmon. During rainstorms, the 6PPD gets washed off the roads and into streams, where it is then ingested by the fish.