Problem particulate matter: More environmental zones thanks to alternative fuels?
The future of the automobile lies in alternative drive systems. They should not only contribute to climate protection, but also make the air in cities cleaner. But since the vehicles are usually much heavier than conventional combustion engines, they produce more and more particulate matter. So the air in the cities could get worse again - and there could be new environmental zones.
The Swedish truck company Scania is working on a revolutionary idea. New trucks are to be equipped with solar cells on the roof. This way, the battery can be charged by solar energy while driving. This should increase the range of the trucks by 5,000 kilometres every year.
But while this alternative mode of propulsion could significantly reduce engine emissions, other emissions will be increased. Since the solar cells make the truck significantly heavier, the abrasion of tyres, brakes and road surface is also greater. The vehicle thus produces more particulate matter from so-called non-exhaust emissions.
Electric cars have a similar problem. Since the battery, especially in vehicles with a long range, carries an enormous weight, they also increasingly produce particulate matter through abrasion. The problem also exists with internal combustion cars and was ignored by politicians for a long time. Nevertheless, the heavier a car, the higher the non-exhaust emissions. E-cars with a long range and vehicles equipped with new technologies such as solar cells will therefore always produce more particulate matter through abrasion than conventional combustion engines.
According to experts, particulate matter from non-exhaust emissions could already account for half of all emissions from traffic. The new Euro 7 standard, which is to apply to passenger cars in the EU from 2025 and then also to heavier vehicles from 2027, will therefore also include emissions from abrasion from brakes and tyres. Manufacturers will then face new challenges to comply with the new emissions standard and will need new technologies to reduce particulate emissions far from the engine.
For the citizens of Europe, therefore, the switch to alternative drive systems does not necessarily mean a sigh of relief. Although air quality could be significantly improved by banning diesel vehicles, for example, in terms of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter concentrations will remain high or even rise for the time being. Accordingly, an end to the environmental zones is far from in sight!