Re:Waymo doubles service area in Phoenix Metro
by jeffbee on Friday May 05, 2023 @05:30PM
(#35835367)
As I understand it a large component of the particulate emissions from cars is resuspended road dust, so it doesn't really matter than an EV or hybrid has little of its on brake dust. The brake dust is already on the ground.
Re:Waymo doubles service area in Phoenix Metro
by brewdad on Friday May 05, 2023 @07:38PM
(#35836468)
But like CO2 emissions, the amount of brake dust available to be kicked up will decrease as more EVs take the road.
This isn't even accounting for the efficiencies of an autonomous vehicle decelerating less by better anticipating/timing stoplights. I see so many human drivers keep accelerating into a yellow/red light instead of easing off the pedal so they can resume accelerating by the time it turns green.
And it's no longer true that EVs are heavier than comparable combustion vehicles. The Tesla Model 3 weighs 3,550-4,070lbs. The BMW 3 Series weighs 3,200–4,330lbs, though the lightest model is a two door convertible. While combustion vehicles don't carry heavy batteries, they do need exhaust systems, more complicated drivetrains, and bigger cooling systems. Also, more and more combustion vehicles are becoming hybrids to meet stricter emissions standards. That means adding weight for batteries, an electric motor, and a transmission that can handle both propulsion sources.
1. See figure 6 in this paper: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/2/190