An Unexpected Danger of Electric Vehicles Described 0 7

Scientists from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have discovered an unexpected danger associated with electric vehicle charging stations. The study was published on the organization's website.

As part of the experiment, specialists analyzed air quality near 50 Tesla Supercharger stations located in Los Angeles. It turned out that in close proximity to electric refueling stations, the air contains twice as many harmful particles as at a distance from them.

The level of harmful fine particles near the stations ranged from 15 to 20 micrograms per cubic meter. This is significantly higher than the average level of typical urban background in Los Angeles — 7–8 micrograms per cubic meter. The scientists also provided a comparison of air analysis at refueling stations for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles — 12 micrograms per cubic meter.

According to the specialists, air pollution is caused by dust, tiny fragments of tires, and sand that can be found near the charging stations. "Fortunately, at a distance of several meters from the station, the concentration of harmful particles in the air decreases significantly," noted the study's author Ifan Zhu.