Breaking with regen makes EV use the physical breaks less often as compared to combustion engine vehicles. Using breaks also emits particulates although I am not sure how it compares to the volumes of particulate emissions by combustion engines and tires abrasion.
EVs use their brakes less because of regenerative breaking. The particulate matter of tires is for the most part comparatively big an heavy, so a larger part of it stays near the ground and gets swept away by rain, and could be cleared in problematic locations by wetting the street (also bigger particles seem somewhat less problematic for health).
You're right that EVs don't fully solve the problem, but they are a giant step in the right direction.
Should not occur in EVs because braking is not necessary.
> Tyre dust
Fine. In cities this is one of the easiest problems to solve, since most of it is washed out into drainage pipes and the waste water can be effectively filtered (although this is not done in most places yet).
Fortunately I don't live in a city anymore so I don't have to put up with these rules.
And the link to a logic course somehow proves you right for saying "EVs do nothing to reduce particulate matter pollution from tires and breaks"?
Dude, you just pulled the weird-ass argument about "that's why I used a conjuction" in a hail Mary attempt to pretend you already knew about them reducing break pollution.
As if any person who actually knew EVs reduce particulate matter pollution from breaks would ever say: "EVs do nothing to reduce particulate matter pollution from tires and breaks" - implying they meant "they don't reduce BOTH" all along.
Most EVs indeed use regenerative braking. Which means your brake pads last a lot longer as you barely use them. Tire particles are a bigger problem. Just think of the mass of tires that you erode away before you replace them (routinely) and compare that to the brake pads you replace much less often. And it's not just the tires that erode but also the road. Asphalt particles are nasty as well. Though most of that dust is quite coarse and doesn't stay in the air as long. But then, tire and road dust is apparently the biggest source of microplastics in our oceans. It washes away, enters our sewers, rivers, and eventually the oceans. It's bad for different reasons as well.
Many electric cars use the motors for regenerative braking instead of the actual breaks. I also have no sources at hand, but I believe brake dust is greatly reduced with electric cars.
Tire wear, well, from what I can tell electric cars seem to chew through tires more quickly due to the weight of the vehicles and the high torque. No sources at hand for this, either…
> have tire and brake dust (worse, due to the average weight)
this isn't really true. EV brakes barely get any use because of regenerative breaking, and EV tires tend to be stiffer which mostly evens out the tires.
Then again, EVs often use regenerative breaking (“one pedal driving”). I have made it a habit to engage this as often as possible, avoiding to use the brakes. I wonder if this results in fewer sharp stops and is easier on the tyres.
What car owners (EV or otherwise) can do to relieve their conscience is to use tyres with the smallest possible dimensions. This should reduce the amount of particle emissions from tyre abrasions. As a plus, smaller tyres are also cheaper, lighter and increase the range.
The principal problem of hazardous chemicals in tyres and non-degradable micro abrasions appears solvable to me. Probably comes down to regulatory intervention and cost and not so much to an insurmountable chemistry challenge.
EVs probably produce more tire particulates but definitely make less brake dust, since most of the braking is regenerative. Not sure how that balances out in the grand scheme of things but it’s not a clear cut thing.
You make a good point about brake pads but EVs still release particles from tyre wear, although there is active research on tyres that reduce that source of pollution too.
Tire particulate is a particularly nasty form of pollution that most are unaware of. EVs aren't particularly better at reducing tread wear (some say it's a bit higher due to instant-torque at 0 RPM).
Honest question, tires, or brakes? I was under the impression brake dust was the worst polluter. I'm sure tires aren't great either, but they should be equivalent between EV's and ICE cars. Brakes last significantly longer on EV's and therefore would help with pollution.
On the other hand, EVs unfortunately pollute more with tire particles (thanks to both higher torque - especially from 0 - and higher average mass).
reply