From: Daily Mail
Electric, hybrid and other eco-friendly cars fill the air with as many toxins as dirty diesels say scientists
Electric, hybrid and other eco-friendly cars fill the air with as many toxins as dirty diesel vehicles, scientists have found.
The greener alternative produce more tiny particles from tyre and brake wear because batteries and other parts needed to propel them make them heavier.
It happens because when eco-cars accelerate or slow down the tyres and brakes wear faster, in turn producing more particulates. More particles are also whipped up from the road surface because of the extra weight.
These extra emissions are almost equal to the toxic particulates saved by reduced engine use, according to Jonathan Leake at The Sunday Times.
The research, led by Peter Achten and co-author Victor Timmers of Edinburgh University, is published in the journal Atmospheric Environment.
Achten said: ‘We found that non-exhaust emissions, from brakes, tyres and the road, are far larger than exhaust emissions in all modern cars.
‘These are more toxic than emissions from modern engines so they are likely to be key factors in the extra heart attacks, strokes and asthma attacks seen when air pollution levels surge.’
Leave a Reply