Electric vehicles on our roads are growing exponentially. Cost reduction and the need for individual transport are the main causes. In the next 5 or 6 years I bans on traditional petrol and diesel vehicles they will design a whole new future.
However, zero-emission vehicles aren't entirely green, and that's where The Tire Collective comes in. Even if 100% of cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles were electric or hydrogen-powered, the problem of microplastic pollution from tires would still remain.
A pollution caused by friction that occurs due to friction every time a driver has to brake, accelerate or take a turn.
Microplastic pollution of tires
The microplastic particles from tires disperse into the air, and represent up to 50% of PM2,5 pollution caused by road transport. A disaster that can damage lungs and other organs.
Many particles are transported in rivers and oceans, affect ecosystems and, ultimately, our own food chain, causing further health problems.
After single-use plastic, tire wear is the second largest microplastic pollutant in our oceans.
Some practical examples
To understand what volumes we are talking about, a large bus releases about 4,65 g (0,17 ounces) of microplastics from the tires per journey, and 65 grams (2,3 ounces) per day.
In Europe, microplastic pollution from tires is 530.000 tonnes per year. In the USA, however, it is estimated that 1,8 million tons of microplastics are produced from tires every year. It is the highest amount in the world.
Research from the Dutch Open University estimates that microplastics in tires are responsible for 130.000-300.000 deaths worldwide.
With electric, emissions could increase
Despite their green calling, electric vehicles could increase PM2,5 emissions from tires due to the weight of the battery. British government figures suggest an increase in PM2,5 emissions by up to 25% by 2030.
Given the scale of the problem, a group of students from Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art founded “The Tire Collective”. This is a new startup that aims to make cities healthier by reducing emissions from tire wear.
The Tire Collective, an all star against emissions
The team of four combined their expertise in different areas of engineering and design to create an innovative device, which this year won the prestigious Design Award Dyson Award.
“As a team, our strength lies in our diversity,” he explains Hugo Richardson, co-founder. “We come from all four corners of the globe and bring a wealth of knowledge in mechanical engineering, product design, architecture and biomechanics.
“Tires are known to wear out, but no one seems to think about where they end up. We were truly shocked to discover that tire particles are the second largest microplastic pollutant in our oceans. At the Tire Collective, we want to capture microplastics from tires directly at the source.”
A “scavenger” device that captures microplastics from tires directly behind the wheels.
The prototype created by The Tire Collective exploits the properties of electrostatics and air flow around a wheel. It is currently capable of capture 60% of microplastic particles from tires.
Material that can be reused for new tires or materials, creating a closed loop system. The team demonstrated this by printing their business cards with ink made from dust collected from the tires.
The Tire Collective aims to bring people from different disciplines and sectors together, creating a global network of partnerships and collaborations.
