Comparing non-exhaust emissions from electric vehicles (EVs) to those from hybrid vehicles involves understanding emissions sources like tire and brake wear. While EVs are heavier and could potentially generate more emissions from these sources, recent research suggests otherwise.
Electric Vehicles vs. Hybrid Vehicles
- Weight and braking: EVs are typically heavier than both hybrid and gasoline-powered vehicles, which could lead to increased wear on tires and brakes, potentially increasing particulate matter (PM) emissions. However, studies indicate that EVs generally produce less non-exhaust PM emissions due to their smoother acceleration profiles and regenerative braking systems, which reduce wear on brakes compared to hybrid vehicles.
- Particulate Matter Emissions: Research by Hesham Rakha and colleagues showed that EVs produce lower non-exhaust emissions under various driving conditions, suggesting an environmental advantage even when accounting for their heavier weight.
- Hybrid Vehicles: Hybrids operate by switching between electric and combustion engine modes. They can offer a balance in terms of emissions but generally have higher non-exhaust emissions compared to EVs because they still utilize an internal combustion engine, which contributes to both exhaust and non-exhaust PM emissions.
In summary, while EVs are heavier and might intuitively seem to produce more particulate matter from tire and brake wear, studies suggest they typically generate fewer non-exhaust emissions than hybrid vehicles, thanks to their overall driving efficiency and regenerative braking mechanisms.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-do-non-exhaust-emissions-from-electric-vehicles-compare-to-those-from-hybrid-vehicles/
