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In New York City, congestion pricing leads to marked drop in pollution

(e360.yale.edu)
472 points Brajeshwar | 2 comments | 10 Dec 25 15:25 UTC | HN request time: 0.402s | source
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lkbm ◴[10 Dec 25 15:34 UTC] No.46218856[source]▶
> Particulates issued from tailpipes can aggravate asthma and heart disease and increase the risk of lung cancer and heart attack. Globally, they are a leading risk factor for premature death.

Minor nitpick, but tailpipes aren't the primary source of emissions. The study is about PM2.5[0]. which will chiefly be tires and brake pads. Modern gasoline engines are relatively clean, outside of CO2, though diesel engines spit out a bunch of bad stuff.

[0] https://www.nature.com/articles/s44407-025-00037-2

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throwawaypath ◴[10 Dec 25 15:39 UTC] No.46218933[source]▶
How do EVs fare in this regard? Brakes are used significantly less, but the additional weight from the batteries chews through tires faster.
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jgeada ◴[10 Dec 25 15:43 UTC] No.46219005[source]▶
Why does everyone immediately pivot to EVs on this subject, instead of (looks around) gargantuan SUVs and trucks everywhere, due to peculiarities of US policies regulating SUVs more leniently than cars on fuel efficiency?
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SoftTalker ◴[10 Dec 25 16:55 UTC] No.46220111[source]▶
Consumers like SUVs. They are convenient, easy to get in and out of, flexible for hauling large items, many can pull trailers, offer good visibility for the driver, and do well in the snow.
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1. kjkjadksj ◴[10 Dec 25 19:04 UTC] No.46222035[source]▶
Wagons can do all of that too
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2. SoftTalker ◴[11 Dec 25 19:30 UTC] No.46236027[source]▶
They can, the main difference being they ride lower (like a sedan) and tend to have less headroom in the cargo area so might not be quite as good at transporting "stuff."

I had a Ford Focus wagon for quite some time, loved it. Cheap to buy, cheap to own, nothing exciting but very dependable and useful. With a small 4-cylinder engine it could not tow (at least not much) and rust eventually claimed it. Still ran like new with over 200K miles.