Car news
The next big pollution target: car tyres CAR TYRES PRODUCE ALMOST 2000 TIMES MORE PARTICLE POLLUTION THAN MODERN CAR EXHAUSTS, TESTS HAVE SHOWN. Analysts say tyre particles pollute air, water, and soil, and contain a wide range of toxic organic compounds, including known carcinogens, suggesting tyre pollution could rapidly become a major issue for regulators. The tests also revealed that tyres produce more than 1tn ultrafine particles for each kilometre driven, meaning particles smaller than 23 nanometres. These are also emitted from exhausts and are of special concern to health, as their size means they
wear rates, you get some staggering figures as to what’s being released.” Used tyres produced 36 milligrams of particles each kilometre, 1850 times higher than the 0.02 mg/km average from exhausts. A very aggressive – though legal – driving style will send particle emissions soaring, up to 5760 mg/km. The wear rate of different tyre brands varied substantially and the toxic chemical content varied even more, he said, showing low-cost changes
Milligrams of particles per kilometre of driving New Types 73.0 Used Tyres 36.5 Exhaust (legal limit) 4.5 Exhaust (real world) 0.02 can enter organs via the bloodstream. Particles below 23nm are hard to measure and are not currently regulated in either the EU or US. “Tyres are rapidly eclipsing the tailpipe as a major source of emissions from vehicles,” said Nick Molden of Emissions Analytics, the leading independent emissions testing company that did the research. “Tailpipes are now so clean for pollutants that, if you were starting out afresh, you wouldn’t even bother regulating them.” There are currently no regulations on the wear rate of tyres and little regulation on the chemicals they contain. “There are hundreds and hundreds of chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic,” Molden said. “When you multiply it by the total
were feasible to cut their environmental impact. “You could do a lot by eliminating the most toxic tyres,” he said. “It’s not about stopping people driving, or having to invent completely different new tyres. If you could eliminate the worst half, and maybe bring them in line with the best in class, you can make a massive difference. But at the moment, there’s no regulatory tool, there’s no surveillance.” Other recent research has suggested tyre particles are a major source of the microplastics polluting the oceans. A specific chemical used in tyres has been linked to salmon deaths in the US, and California proposed a ban this month. “It’s early days, but this could be a big issue,” Molden said.
Is this the beginning of the end for brakes? PARISIAN LUXURY CARMAKER DS AUTOMOBILES HAS DEVELOPED A PROTOTYPE ELECTRIC VEHICLE THAT USES ONLY ELECTRIC MOTOR REGENERATION INSTEAD OF CONVENTIONAL BRAKES — SHOWCASING A POTENTIAL FUTURE ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES. USING TECHNOLOGY FROM THE BRAND’S FORMULA E RACE CAR, THE DS E-TENSE PERFORMANCE USES TWO ONBOARD ELECTRIC MOTORS TO SLOW THE VEHICLE ENTIRELY THROUGH REGENERATIVE BRAKING, UP TO 600KW. Though regenerative braking is already available in most electric vehicles, conventional friction brakes are still there when you need them. DS is exploring whether regenerative braking alone could work, helping to better recharge the battery in the process, and doing away with conventional brake discs and pads. Beatrice Foucher, DS Automobiles CEO, said: “Formula E is about maximising performance
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Auto Channel Issue #48 July 2022
and efficiency, and the DS E-Tense Performance is our vision of a road car utilising our racewinning technology. Regenerative braking is a very powerful way to not only slow the vehicle down, but also help improve battery performance. The DS E-Tense Performance takes the technology to a new level, with regenerative braking used solely to slow the vehicle down.”
Fast charge in five STOREDOT, A PIONEER OF EXTREME FAST CHARGING (XFC) BATTERY TECHNOLOGY FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES, HAS DEMONSTRATED ITS ABILITY TO CHARGE A FULL-SCALE ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) BATTERY CELL WITH THE ENERGY FOR 160KM IN JUST FIVE MINUTES. The presentation took place at EcoMotion Week 2022 in Israel, which brought together car makers including General Motors, Volvo, Ford, Continental, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, and Hyundai. The demonstration was a milestone on StoreDot’s ‘100inX’ strategic technology roadmap to deliver 100 (miles) in five by 2024, 100 in three by 2028, and 100 in two in by 2032. The demonstration featured a 300x100mm pouch cell produced at EVE energy’s manufacturing plant in China. The battery was charged under a 10-minute time limit, during which the cell charged to 20Ah, exceeding the 0-80 per cent capacity target set for the demonstration. The cell maintained a charge rate capable of adding 160km of range every five minutes of charging. At no point did the battery temperature exceed 33 degrees Celsius, well below the recommended operating temperature set by StoreDot’s engineers, and all critical parameters of the cell performed at an optimum level.
