A known downside of electric vehicles (EVs) is that theirtireswear out quicker than the sets on their gas-powered counterparts, producing pollutants at the same time — but a solution is in the works.
ENSO Tyres, a UK-based startup, is coming across the pond to build a $500 million factory in the U.S., where it can focus onmass producing tiresthat won’t break down as easily.
Heavy EV Vehicles Lead to Tire Durability Problems
Part of the reason EV tires wear out much faster is due to the heft of the battery within the car. With more weight to bear, the tires are exposed to higher levels of friction and begin disintegrating at a faster rate. This leads to more frequent replacements and higher amounts of pollution.
These aren’t small-scale levels of pollutants either — globally, more than6 million tons of tire particlesenter the environment and atmosphere each year. So while the breakdown of tires pose problems for car owners, it’s having a much more detrimental impact overall.
ENSO Tyres’ Plans for Change
There are now plans to stop the degradation and pollution, or at least slow it. ENSO’s goal is to extend the life of tires by making them with more durable materials. While it keeps a tight seal on its trademark formula, it is known that the tires are made ofadvanced raw materials, which have fewer toxic components overall.
ENSO isn’t alone in the search for better tires, as several companies, includingBridgestone, Michelin, andGM, have been trying to tackle this environmental problem too, with innovative solutions like airless tires.
5 Million Tires in the First Year
With aletter of interest signedand sights set on the year 2027, ENSO Tyres is planning on building a new factory in the U.S., with the goal of producing 5 million tires in its first year, and 20 million in the years following.
While they’ve yet to settle on a location in America, ENSO has already seen success in the UK. After a15-month trial runin London, they noted that vehicles were 10% more energy efficient and there was a 35% decrease in tire pollutant emissions. California alone hasmore registered EVsthanthe UK doesas a whole, so ENSO will have plenty of cars to work with when the time comes.
The Future of EV Tires—Conclusion
The main purpose of EVs existing is to cut down on carbon emissions and pollutants and lessen the use of fossil fuels while still getting people around efficiently. Despite their sustainable intention, EVs are still releasing an extortionate amount of tire particle pollutants, which partly counteract their benefits.
ENSO is hoping to change this by producing more durable tires and creating a large U.S.-based factory to do so. In the future, owners andmanufacturers of EVswill likely have access to tires that break down at a slower rate, reducing tire changes and the number of contaminants leaching into the environment, and in turn showing up in animals and humans.
Image Credit:Shutterstock/olrat
