Kevan Gibbons has worked in car garages for 45 years. He has seen many changes. Cars are now bigger. People stop their cars more often than before. This makes brake pads wear out faster.
When cars stop, tiny particles from the brakes enter the air. This is called brake dust. Most people don’t know this, but it harms the air we breathe.
Brake Dust: A Silent Problem
EIT Urban Mobility says brake dust is now the biggest cause of car pollution in cities. Adriana Diaz, their director, says very few people know about this problem. Brake dust has small metal and carbon bits. These can enter our lungs and cause health problems.
Electric cars help a little. They use less friction when braking because they recharge the battery while slowing down. But even electric cars still have normal brakes that create dust.
Euro 7 Rules: First-Ever Brake Emission Limits
The European Union is bringing new rules called Euro 7 next year. These rules will limit how much brake dust cars can release.
Cars will not be allowed to release more than 3-11 mg/km of PM10 dust, depending on the car type. Today, most cars release about 8.8 mg/km.
The EU thinks these rules will cut brake dust by 27% by 2035. China is also planning to bring its own rules, called China 7, by the end of 2025.
How Will Car Companies Reduce Brake Dust?
François Cuenot, an expert from the UN, says there are two main ways to reduce brake dust.
François Cuenot
One way is to put a strong coating on brake discs. This makes them harder and reduces wear.
Another way is to change the materials in brake pads to ones that wear down less.
Different places prefer different types of brake pads. Europe and Asia use low-steel pads because they respond quickly. The US prefers organic pads, which give smoother braking.
Will Greener Brake Pads Be Expensive?
New technology usually costs more. Kevan Gibbons, who works in Manchester, says most of his customers care more about price than pollution. “For them, it’s all about money,” he says.
Luxury cars already use advanced brakes, but now normal cars will need them too. This will likely make brake parts cost more, at least for a few years.
Car makers will need to spend money on new materials, testing, and making new products. This may increase the price of cars.
Some Companies Are Going Further
Some companies are not waiting for these rules. Italian company Brembo has made Greentell brakes. These do not use copper, cobalt, or nickel. Brembo uses a process called laser metal deposition, which layers metal powder onto brake discs.
These brakes reduce brake dust by 60-90% in tests.
Brembo
Another company, Tenneco, makes Fuse+ brake pads. These also cut dust by 60% and reduce noise. This is useful for electric cars, which are usually very quiet.
But there’s a problem. Some low-wear brake pads may use materials that are toxic to water and health. Europe bans asbestos in brakes, but some places like California have stricter rules. Euro 7 does not add new rules on brake pad materials.
Will Drum Brakes Return?
Drum brakes might become popular again. These brakes keep all the dust inside a drum. This prevents particles from escaping into the air.
EIT Urban Mobility says drum brakes create 23% less dust than disc brakes. But drum brakes are not as strong in high heat. Companies are working on improving this.
With cleaner brakes, drivers may notice their wheels stay cleaner. But these new systems will cost more.
Cleaner Brakes, Cleaner Cities?
Experts agree that cleaner brakes will help air quality. But this is only a small part of a bigger problem. Adriana Diaz says the real solution is to reduce car traffic in cities. She mentions Barcelona’s “superblocks” as a good example where people enjoy traffic-free areas.
Changing city designs and reducing car use is a harder challenge than limiting brake dust. But Diaz believes people will accept it once they see cleaner and quieter streets.
What Does This Mean for Drivers?
For now, greener brakes will likely cost more. Over time, as more cars use them, prices may come down.
But in places like the UK, where there are no rules on brake dust, people may not care. Many will still buy cheaper brake pads, even if they pollute more.
Still, brake dust is getting attention now. This could lead to cleaner air for all of us in the future.
Image Source
Brake Job – Photo by DVIDS,
