Washington, DC – The Recycled Rubber Alliance has released a report titled "Unexpected Electric Vehicle Environmental Problems with Common Sense Solutions," which examines how the rapid adoption of electric vehicles will lead to an increase in waste tires and provides practical solutions to the problem. ** and reuse these tires.
The growing consumer demand for electric vehicles remains one of the most exciting developments in recent years. However, we need to address the reality of the increase in waste tires they produce. While there are excellent options, effective policies to support the expansion of the recycled rubber market are essential to strengthen and encourage reuse efforts in the industry," the Recycled Rubber Alliance said.
Art Dodge, CEO of eCore International, added: "This report reveals the urgent need to increase the recycling rate of waste tyres in the coming years. The good news is that our industry has reduced U.S. scrap tire inventories in the past and today, and we have more innovative end-use products that are sustainable, long-lasting, and popular. ”
The United States currently produces about $31.5 billion scrap tires. In the first analysis of its kind, the alliance estimated that the amount of waste tires generated would increase by 12% as drivers switch to electric vehicles. Electric vehicles are 20% heavier than equivalent gas-powered vehicles and can reach maximum torque almost instantaneously, both of which increase friction and lead to increased tire wear and waste.
Although current technology allows for the reuse of waste tires, in recent years the production of tires has exceeded the available market for recycled rubber. The coalition highlights innovative ways to reuse used tires, such as tire-derived aggregates and rubber-modified asphalt, and advocates for state and federal policy priority grants to expand the use of recycled rubber. With common-sense support for the use of recycled rubber, we can ensure that electric vehicles have a positive impact on the environment from the beginning to the end of their life cycle.