The transformation does not stop at road freight transport: Electrically powered vehicles are considered a key technology for climate-neutral mobility. However, they bring new challenges with them. Among other things, it is tire abrasion that causes significant environmental pollution.
According to the Federal Environment Agency, at least 100,000 tons of tire wear are produced annually in Germany, which accounts for about one-third of total microplastic emissions. Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics are now looking into this issue. They are investigating the phenomenon within the framework of the RAMUS (Tire Wear Measurement and Simulation) project.
Electric Drives and Their Impact
Due to the high weight of the batteries and the high starting torques of electric vehicles, more tire wear is generated than with vehicles with internal combustion engines.
"Unlike pollution sources that have been the focus so far, such as exhaust gases, the influences on the formation process are still little researched," explains Dr. Martin Gießler from the Institute for Vehicle System Technology (FAST) at KIT.
The tire wear releases microplastic particles that enter the air as fine dust, as sediment into water bodies, and as contaminants into the soil.
New Limits Through the Euro 7 Standard
With the Euro 7 standard, limits for tire wear will be introduced for the first time for passenger cars from July 2028. From 2030 and 2032, respectively, light and heavy commercial vehicles will also be subject to this regulation.
```However, in order to comply with the limit values, the causes of abrasion must be better understood. The influencing factors include, among others, vehicle weight, tire type, driving behavior as well as road and traffic conditions.
Research with real traffic data
The aim of researchers at KIT is to develop a simulation-based forecasting model based on data from mobility and driving profiles of electrified delivery traffic. These data are transferred into condensed operating profiles to conduct realistic tests on a specially equipped tire testing stand. The test stand is equipped with a real asphalt surface and measures the traction and abrasion behavior of the tires under various conditions.
Objective: Reduction of tire abrasion
The collected data contribute to the development of a digital tire model that will provide extensive information about the wear of virtual tires. The results are intended to help predict abrasion under varying conditions.
"In order to reduce abrasion and comply with the new limits, we need to investigate more precisely how abrasion occurs and how, for example, the weight of the vehicle or the type of tire affects the amount of abrasion," says Gießler.
The results of the RAMUS project will be made publicly accessible through publications and an open access platform. The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport is funding the project with just under 200,000 euros as part of the mFUND innovation initiative.
Conclusion
Research into tire abrasion of electrified vehicles is an important step in minimizing the environmental impact of road freight transport. Through the introduction of the Euro 7 standard and the development of new models, more environmentally friendly solutions for road freight transport can be realized in the future. In doing so, the industry is making a decisive contribution to reducing microplastic emissions.
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