Earlier quoted context omitted.
People should walk as far as they are willing to walk.
As i mentioned in my other post. Thats not far for most people. More than 1/4 mile and people will not hesitate to get the car
Tire dust makes up the majority of ocean microplastics
131–140 of 635 posts
Re: Tire dust makes up the majority of ocean microplastics
#132Earlier quoted context omitted.
I doubt an ID3 weighs only half a ton. Probably at least three times that?
It is close to two tons, I was (clumsily, it appears, but English is my third language, so please bear with me) trying to state that an id.3 compact is 250-450kg (depending on configuration) heavier than a gasoline-powered estate.
Re: Tire dust makes up the majority of ocean microplastics
#133Typical hackernews to have threads full of well meaning but ultimately misguided people saying ah we have some technological solution for this. The solution to this problem and every other problem caused by driving is not driving . Period. Not driving doesn't require any new technology, it just requires getting serious about alternatives to driving. (safe, separated bike ways, ebike and micromobility subsidies, rail,…
In other words: you're proposing to replace a set of possible, if difficult, technological solutions, with an near-impossible social solution. I'd call that misguided. Technological solutions tend to be discussed because they can be implemented. Social solutions may work better, but only in imaginary la-la land where they can actually be put into practice. In the real world, you can't " just " get people to not drive…
It can be reversed. Believe it out not, prior to the Industrial Revolution people got around just fine. Somehow the auto industry convinced people their dangerous machines in the hands of commoners was a good idea.
Re: Tire dust makes up the majority of ocean microplastics
#134Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, because we're a wealthy and productive society and the fruits of human progress in the past 300 years have allowed us to build a civilization where nearly everyone can afford to use a multi-ton machine of nearly incomprehensible complexity and sophistication to carry them around, instead of pushing a cart like a peasant 5,000 years ago did.
Yes we can afford this now. In the context of "Tire Dust Makes Up the Majority of Ocean Microplastics" how long can we afford this? Just like dumping Freon, and CO2 into the atmosphere have long term consequences that require our society to change, how long can we go aerosolizing rubber?
Re: Tire dust makes up the majority of ocean microplastics
#135Earlier quoted context omitted.
Would it be still cheaper if all tires are made from natural rubber. We shouldn't have old forests destroyed for rubber plantations.
There are two main working solutions that have ALREADY been used and proven to work since WWII. First: a fungal disease has wiped out ALL the rubber trees in south america, thats why we cant grow in it the Western hemisphere, a fungus. If we could grow it here we would and it would drop the price by A LOT. But, we already have a solution, a transgenic species that is resistant, nonsense Government regulation and moro…
Synthetic rubber being the largest microplastic source in the world is an incredibly stroke of irony. Reminds me of us discovering that adding tetra ethyl lead to fuel might not be a wonderful idea.
Re: Tire dust makes up the majority of ocean microplastics
#136It’s great to bring this problem up. But the focus on EVs is a distraction. > EVs tend to shed around 20 percent more from their tires due to their higher weight and high torque compared to traditional internal combustion engine-powered vehicles. It’s covered in this panel discussion on Fully Charged: https://youtu.be/LeHakmL6eEc?si=ebBAn8RSDhmmLfHI Fleet operators don’t see any significant difference in tire wear. E…
> EVs have higher torque but that doesn’t matter unless to drive like a mad-man Its not torque that matters. Its simply friction and normal force. And that's directly caused by weight. Tire Wear is something like (weight^4), so small increases in weight will have huge increases to wear-and-tear. --------- I think the real issue is that 3000lbs to 4500lbs, while a significant increase in tire wear, is still small comp…
Re: Tire dust makes up the majority of ocean microplastics
#137Years of creating artificial reefs from old tires are catching up. I wonder how sharp those people are? Next we should find about how those giant ships that blow their exhaust under water and kill all life.
You could build cities of tires in the ocean and they would probably not be significant compared with normal tire friction in normal vehicle use.
Also most of those reefs will be covered by debris and ocean flora, synthetic rubber is mostly decomposed by friction or UV radiation if it's left alone and covered in ocean stuff it will arguably be insignificant compared to your personal contribution of eroding tires on your way to work.
Re: Tire dust makes up the majority of ocean microplastics
#138I worked on a phd for 4 years looking into this problem indirectly and for a decade at Ohio State they have had working solutions to the tire dust issue but it is IMPOSSIBLE to get funding. A Billion dollar industry and NO ONE cares about cleaning it up if it means increasing costs by 5% or more. It has been WELL KNOWN for 50 years! We are basically aerosolizing carbon in MASSIVE amounts right where we live and work.…
Re: Tire dust makes up the majority of ocean microplastics
#139Earlier quoted context omitted.
> EVs have higher torque but that doesn’t matter unless to drive like a mad-man Its not torque that matters. Its simply friction and normal force. And that's directly caused by weight. Tire Wear is something like (weight^4), so small increases in weight will have huge increases to wear-and-tear. --------- I think the real issue is that 3000lbs to 4500lbs, while a significant increase in tire wear, is still small comp…
>Do we want 100-people in a neighborhood driving 100x cars to a store? Or would we rather have 1x large truck deliver a (heavier) package to 100x different people? Why can't the majority of the people walk to a store and the rest can be serviced by a smaller truck?