EVs tend to weigh more and cause a higher degree of microplastic emission and road wear.
HN is usually happy to remind everyone that the damage a vehicle causes to a road scales with the fourth power of its weight. A Tesla model 3 is about triple the wear on the road surface compared to a Toyota Camry.
Obviously the higher mass and torque of the EV causes more microplastics. This is basic materials science and the reason why EVs need tougher tires.
I dont get why we're comparing F150s to the Model Y. When Im looking to buy a truck, Im not considering the Model Y (although In peeved the Ranger isnt hybrid). I have never considered a Tesla (Im not in the market for another sedan) but if I were my comparison would be something like the Accord.
But sure let's compare the F150 to the model Y: back in 2021 - a base F150 weighed about 4000lb, less than a base Model Y and an F150 supercab V6 F150 was <4500 lb. [1] A long range model Y weighs about a little bit less, but the difference is less than 100 lb.
Sure, I can configure the F150 to weigh 5500, but few need to and few do. So the point stands:
The Model Y weighs as much as a half ton truck.
Meanwhile a Ford Maverick, a truck Ford can't make enough to meet demand, weighs 3700 lb
[1] https://media.ford.com/content/dam/fordmedia/North%20America...
> This is basic materials science and the reason why EVs need tougher tires.
Exactly. Tires are formulated to the load they are designed to carry. It's why semis don't have to make a pit stop every 2 miles for new tires.
But, like I said, brake dust is _far_ worse, and nearly eliminated with EVs:
https://electrek.co/2025/05/27/another-way-electric-cars-cle...
> I dont get why we're comparing F150s to the Model Y.
Because one is the most popular gas car, the other the most popular EV. Removing an engine and adding batteries increases weight, sure, but that doesn't have anything to do with the average weight that's on the road. You have to tax things based on what's actually out there, not what _would_ be out there if you took the existing fleet and turned them EV. Batteries are expensive, so there's incentive not to use so much and make the car smaller and more efficient instead. That doesn't happen with gas cars.
> A long range model Y weighs about a little bit less, but the difference is less than 100 lb.
Yeah, I know. That's all I was saying. You said the average EV weighed more. In fact, it's less.
It is more stark than that, though. The most popular F150 in 2025 is the Lariat SuperCrew, which has a 5300 lb curb weight. The model Y has a curb weight of 4400 pounds.
The next most popular gas car is some Chevy pickup. The next more popular EV is the Model 3.
I can put EV tires on an ICE and get 100k miles out of the tires, but why would I? They suck.
The brake dust is a valid point but negated by hybrid drivetrains.
But it's all a wash. No one cares about externalities; neither the rich prog virtue signaling in an EV nor (obviously) the hick rolling coal. If they did there would be popular support for lowered speed limits and there isnt.
The average gas car is an F150, and the average EV is a Model Y. EVs don’t tend to weigh more. And the tire microplastic thing is misinformation with zero evidence. The only evidence we have is the drastically reduced brake wear (and dust) on EVs.