Electric cars will become the primary mode of transportation in the future.
Now, this issue has garnered the attention of ENSO. This UK-based company recently received the Earthshot Prize, dubbed the “Oscar” of environmental protection.
Accordingly, ENSO is committed to producing more durable tires. This not only increases longevity and extends the usage period but also reduces particulate pollution.
Tire and brake wear are the causes of ultra-fine particulate pollution. (Illustration: earthshotprize.org)
Mr. Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, the founder and CEO of ENSO, acknowledges that electric vehicles contribute to particulate pollution. The substances causing this type of pollution are not visible to the naked eye but have extremely harmful effects on human health.
Studies have shown that tire and brake wear are the causes of invisible ultra-fine particulate pollution, and the level of this pollution is significantly higher compared to emissions from internal combustion engine vehicles. Abrasive particles from tires also qualify as microplastics. Recent evidence indicates that, in addition to their environmental impact, these particles harm heart and lung health and may even lead to cancer.
Some research suggests that electric cars may be responsible for higher levels of particulate pollution compared to gasoline and diesel vehicles. For example, a study published this year by Emissions Analytics found that the Tesla Model Y electric vehicle produces 26% more particulate pollution than the Kia Niro hybrid vehicle of similar size. The authors of this study attribute this to the heavier weight and faster, more abrupt acceleration of electric cars.
However, Mr. Erlendsson believes the core issue lies with the tires, especially as manufacturers are shifting towards larger and heavier electric vehicles.
The solution proposed by Mr. Erlendsson’s company is to use higher-quality raw materials combined with better manufacturing techniques. As a result, ENSO has been able to improve its tires, while many tire manufacturers in the U.S. have yet to focus on tire durability.
Tests conducted by the London Department of Transportation show that cars using tires produced by ENSO can reduce particulate emissions by 35%, while the durability of these tires exceeds that of other tire types by over 10%.
According to researchers in the relevant field, countries need to impose stricter regulations on electric vehicle manufacturers as well as companies producing tires for electric vehicles, in order to tackle the issue of particulate pollution.
On September 19, during the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Earthshot Prize, co-founded by Prince William of the UK, announced the 15 winning entities for this year.
