A recent UCLA study discovered that the air around EV fast chargers in use had twice the amount of harmful fine particles typically found in an urban environment.
Plugging an EV into a DC fast charger kicks up fine particles that pollute the air. Electric vehicles may be completely tailpipe emissions-free, but they still pollute the air with particles generated by tire and brake wear, as well as those generated during the charging process.
A team of researchers from the University of Los Angeles, California, led by Professor of Environmental Health Sciences Yifang Zhu, measured the air quality around a rapid charger while it’s topping up an EV and found that it goes down. The team tested 50 fast chargers across LA and found higher particle levels near their power cabinets.
The UCLA scientists found the level of PM 2.5 particles around chargers ranged from 7.3 to 39 micrograms per cubic meter, while the typical range measured in urban settings in California was between 3.6 and 12.4 micrograms per cubic meter. The highest levels were observed around chargers in Los Angeles County, which also has the largest concentration of DC fast chargers.
You can smell pollution
The particles, however, are not coming from the DC chargers themselves. They’re most likely being stirred up by the chargers’ powerful cooling fans. Chemical analysis detected elevated levels of metals like barium, copper, zinc (indicative of brake/tire wear), and aluminum, calcium, and iron (common in dust).
EV owners have probably noticed how loud those cooling fans can get. Some units even start emitting a smell shortly after the fans begin spinning. So while you can’t see these microscopic particles, in many cases you can smell them, and that’s your cue to take a few steps back while your car is charging.
Avoid inhaling particles
Yigang Zhu’s study concluded that it’s best not to stay directly near a DC fast charger while it’s in operation. “Fortunately, a few meters away, the concentrations of particles drop quite a bit. A few hundred meters away, there’s no noticeable difference compared to background levels of pollution.”
Mind you, if you’re DC fast charging by the side of a busy freeway where dozens of diesel trucks are driving past emitting fresh particles, the air quality isn’t excellent, either.
However, if possible, it is best to avoid inhaling particles, as they can easily enter your body. “It’s tough to get rid of them, and they can cause all sorts of health problems,” UCLA’s team of scientists concluded.
Health issues
“Exposure to fine particles can contribute to health issues, and for those with existing conditions or heightened sensitivity, the risks are even greater. These particles are so small, they can travel deep into your lungs and even enter your bloodstream—potentially leading to serious problems like heart or lung diseases.”
So, if you have to stay near your EV while it’s fast-charging, you can use a mask with a filter designed to keep PM 2.5 particles out of your airways. However, simply taking a few steps back from the charger already limits your exposure to all this airborne microscopic nastiness. Or better yet, pop in for a bite or drink and enjoy your emission-free trip afterwards.
