Physical buttons are making a comeback in car design, and soon there may be one specifically aimed at reducing tire wear, according to a Swedish researcher. This was reported by Boosted.
Tire wear and electric cars are closely linked.
Tires for electric vehicles (EVs) can cost up to 100% more than those for petrol or diesel cars. While EVs are considered emission-free during operation, they still contribute to air pollution through particles released from tire wear.
This issue is often more significant in EVs due to their increased weight and strong acceleration.
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To tackle this problem, the Swedish Electromobility Center is funding a project to measure and better understand tire wear in electric cars. The initiative, conducted by VTI and Volvo Cars, focuses on identifying ways to reduce this wear and its environmental impact.
The researcher even suggests that future EVs could feature a dedicated "reduce tire wear" button. Pressing the button could activate a program that adjusts the car's settings to minimize tire wear.
"Who knows? Maybe electric cars will have a 'reduce tire wear' button in the future," the researcher speculated. "It could function as part of an eco-driving mode, similar to the 'eco setting' that many cars already have. But this remains to be seen."
The project, titled "Tire Wear and Tire Particle Emissions from Electric Vehicles", is set to run for two years. Researchers will utilize VTI's tire testing facility in Linköping, Volvo Cars' chassis dynamometers in Gothenburg, and Volvo’s test track in Hällered to collect data and evaluate potential solutions.
