I built this calculator in the hopes that radical transparency would help.
It’s Canada-centric, but you can plug in local prices, gas and electricity rates, etc, and it should successfully pull grid emissions data from your area.
I’m looking for any feedback on how to make it more useful, compelling, etc.
Thanks!
The tire thing is FUD in my experience - and I haven’t seen anything other than anecdotal evedince that under similar driving patterns and styles there’s substantial differences in wear. My Ioniq 5 for example only weighs ~15% more than a Rav4 and less than a Honda Pilot.
When I drove a Subaru STi, I shredded my first set of tires. My station wagon, that weighed more, the tires lasted forever because I drove like an old man. With EVs, if you have fun enjoying that instant torque by punching it off every stoplight, you’ll definitely shred some tires. Accelerate smoothly and I don’t see why tires would see substantially shorter lifespan - which is what I’m seeing from my personal tread wear so far (but that’s anecdotal and therefore of extremely limited value).
I don’t know about wear but I have seen studies that concluded they have increased rubber emissions but I’m not about to go looking for them again. But being that most EVs are fucking trucks and SUVs that shouldn’t be surprising and they wouldn’t apply to small cars that weigh similar.
I don’t have accelerated wear either but I also have a very light EV.
EVs are both heavy and have a huge amount of torque. Both cause higher tire wear. But this is because North American EVs have stupid big batteries.