Polluting electric cars and “abandoned” Apple car

Electric cars generate twice as much carbon dioxide as travelling by train, according to data from the Rail Delivery Group. Analysis shows that the carbon footprint of travelling on some routes with fully electric trains is only one-fifteenth of that left by a person driving a petrol car. However, the campaigners point out that the costs of travelling on eco-routes by rail are higher than travelling by car.

Electric cars can contribute to air pollution and cause wear and tear on tires and road surfaces. Though electric cars have zero engine emissions, their brakes and tires still operate on the principle of friction. Electric cars are on average 400 kg heavier than their counterparts with combustion engines. This greater weight results in a greater friction force, which produces particulate matter that pollutes the environment.

Apple has cancelled its plans to manufacture an electric car with autonomous driving capabilities. Work on the project, which was meant to rival Tesla, has been ongoing for almost a decade, and billions of dollars have been spent on it. Over the years, the cars have been tested on public roads. The car, internally known as “Titan,” was expected to be a challenging development. Suspending such a high-profile and well-known project is a rare move by Apple.