How Is The Automotive Industry Affecting Environment?

By Author: Jaye Williams
Total Articles: 7
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Over few decades, the automobile industry has brought both positive and negative effects than any other industry in the world when we talk about the environmental affects. Mainly this industry is facing few challenges like globalization, digitalization and most importantly environmental commitments which will contribute to the changes ahead.

In most of the developed countries more than 11 million vehicles reach the end of their lives and those vehicles are now out of service. This process made the major impact on the environment and use of old vehicles has centered on emissions, fuel economy and toxicity.

Let’s have a brief discussion on how automobile industry affecting the environment and what precautions need to be taken.

1. Use of Tire particles and debris

In automobile industry, use of tire particles and debris will indicate toxic effects. These particles will lead to the formation of black carbon which will cause lung toxicity in significant portion of urban areas. These implications will impact majorly on the environment. So to overcome these damages on the environment automobile industry ...
... is using less toxic material and to minimize debris on brakes and tires.

2. Fuel Emission

Fuel is the major reason for the affect of green house gas emission by producing more than 15% of EU’s CO2 . The reduction of emission depends on different categories like light duty vehicles, heavy duty vehicles and non road mobile machinery.

3. Artificial color and coatings

During the manufacture of automobiles, use of artificial color and coatings will affect more than 62% on the environment. Materials like nickel, copper and hexavalent chromium will discharge hazardous components into the atmosphere. To overcome these damages, automobile industry has introduced advancement in paint and coating chemistry to reduce the dangerous hazards.

4. Usage of Batteries

For vehicles battery is heart and soul, but it contains a lead-acid battery which can return 93% of the hazardous lead component release into the environment. Moreover the main problem is recyclers and dismantlers may fail to remove the lead batteries from unwanted vehicles. This will cause major impact on environment and green house effect.

5. Vehicle Weight

Most of the environmental impact depends on vehicle mass. According to global climate change vehicle weight led to greater amount of resistance and brake pressure which will lead to larger deposits of brake debris and tire particles in the atmosphere. To avoid these hazards, toxicity and material must be weighed against the potential for toxic release during the disposal of vehicle.