Do you know what the most absurd paradox of modern mobility is? We are becoming obsessed with engine emissions but completely ignore those of brakes. And yet, according to a study just published by EIT Urban Mobility, brake particulate matter is one of the main causes of urban pollution.
The good news is that there is already a concrete solution, and it does not require futuristic technologies: just drive an electric car. Regenerative braking, in fact, It also reduces particulate emissions compared to traditional vehicles.
The myth to be debunked about brake particulate matter
“Yes, but electric cars still pollute because the brakes are identical to those of endothermic cars.” How many times have you heard this objection? Well, it's time to finally shelve it. The study conducted byEuropean Institute of Innovation and Technology in collaboration with Transport for London analyzed the data collected on Milan, London and Barcelona, demonstrating that electric cars produce up to 83% less particulate matter compared to internal combustion vehicles.
The secret, as mentioned, lies in regenerative braking, the technology that transforms the electric motor into a generator during deceleration. Instead of wasting energy by converting it into heat through the friction of the pads, the system recovers electrical energy that is stored in the battery. The result? A drastically reduced use of traditional mechanical brakes.
How Regenerative Braking Really Works
Regenerative braking isn’t just about energy efficiency. In most urban driving situations, electric cars can slow down and stop using mostly the electric motor in generator mode. Mechanical brakes only kick in during heavy braking or when the vehicle is almost at a standstill.
This results in significantly less wear on the brake pads and discs. As we have highlighted Speaking of tire pollution, non-exhaust emissions pose a growing threat to urban air quality. Brake particulate matter contributes to more than 40% of airborne particles generated by vehicular traffic.
The weight of electric cars is not a problem
Another argument often used by detractors is the greater weight of electric cars due to the batteries. “If they weigh more, they wear out more tires and brakes,” they say. But the data from the European study also refutes this theory. Comparing models specifically designed as electric with their internal combustion counterparts, the weight difference is significantly reduced. Tesla Model 3 and BMW 3 Series show a difference of just 5%.
Furthermore, the effect of the additional weight is more than offset by the reduced use of mechanical brakes. Full hybrid cars show a reduction in brake emissions of between 10% and 48%, while plug-in hybrids achieve a reduction of 66%.
Euro 7 recognizes the difference
The new regulation Euro 7 confirms this technical reality. For the first time in automotive history, brake emission limits have different thresholds for electric cars. An electric vehicle that emits 10 mg/km is rated at only 0,15 of its real emissions, officially recognizing the benefits of regenerative braking.
As we have pointed out Speaking of modernizing the electricity grid, the transition to electric brings benefits that are often overlooked. Reducing brake particulate matter is one of them.
And anyway, it's not just brake dust.
The project LOWBRASYS, coordinated by Brembo and funded by the EU with 7 million euros, has developed ceramic braking systems and filters to capture particulate matter. Even with these innovations, the researchers confirm that Regenerative braking remains the most effective solution to reduce brake emissions.
And in total? Adding together emissions from brakes, tires and asphalt, electric cars produce on average 38% less particulate matter compared to petrol models. A figure that definitively dismantles the argument according to which “electric vehicles pollute with their brakes anyway.”
Brake particulate matter is not just an abstract environmental problem: it contributes to the formation of fine dust harmful to human health. While we continue to discuss exhaust fumes, we breathe in invisible microparticles generated by braking every day. The electric car is not only the future of mobility: it is already the concrete solution to breathe cleaner air in our cities.
