Latest news with #YuanYao
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
EV fast chargers have a surprising health downside
Hundreds of public fast chargers are popping up across the US to serve electric vehicle drivers seeking a cleaner alternative to gas-powered cars. But they come with a surprising risk: Charging stations create air pollution. While EVs contribute vastly less to air pollution than combustion-powered vehicles, fast-charging stations are what a recent study called an 'overlooked source of air pollution.' The US added 703 high-speed charging stations in the second quarter, bringing the total across the country to 11,400, according to Energy Department data. Charging firms are planning to install hundreds more before year-end, making it important to address health risks now before the infrastructure becomes entrenched. The problem 'can be solved,' said Yuan Yao, a co-author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles' Fielding School of Public Health. 'We want to make sure that EV adoption is clean.' The emissions are likely tied to the fans used in direct current fast chargers ' power cabinets. While they help keep equipment cool, the recent study indicates they likely have the unintended side effect of kicking up particles from tires, brakes and dust into the air. Researchers took air quality measurements at 50 direct current fast charging stations in Los Angeles County, California, the majority of which were Tesla Inc. Supercharger locations. The company didn't respond to a request for comment. The average concentration of fine particulate matter in the air at the charging sites was 15.2 micrograms per cubic meter, slightly higher than what researchers found at gas stations and significantly higher than in other urban locations such as parks. Nearly half of the charging sites had daily fine particulate matter emissions that exceeded the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines. (The study focused on non-exhaust emissions and therefore didn't measure many types of pollution related to gas-powered cars.) EV charging companies can include filtration in charging cabinets to mitigate pollution, the study's authors said. They can also avoid putting the chargers near places like schools and residential areas. Some companies say they've already taken measures to reduce the risks of particulate matter. 'On all of our current DC fast chargers, ChargePoint enforces a minimum height for the air intake and exhaust to limit the ingress of dust, debris and water,' said a spokesperson for ChargePoint Holdings Inc. , which operates the largest charging network in the US. The company plans to add air filters to its 'DC chargers to further reduce the risk of dust or water entering the system, or particulates being expelled.' Gas-powered cars are still a much more potent health risk, both because of their emissions and gas stations' environmental impact, said Joe Allen, an air quality expert and professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health who was not involved in the study. Research shows fueling stations are major sources of volatile organic compounds, a category of chemicals that includes the carcinogen benzene, while internal combustion vehicles produce smog-forming pollutants. Greenhouse gas emissions also adversely affect health due to their influence on climate change. 'I'd much rather be charging my EV than filling my gas-powered car at the gas station,' Allen said. 'As we expand EV charging — especially fast-charging stations — we should also pay attention to potential emissions from the charging equipment itself,' Yao said.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
EV fast chargers have a surprising health downside
Hundreds of public fast chargers are popping up across the US to serve electric vehicle drivers seeking a cleaner alternative to gas-powered cars. But they come with a surprising risk: Charging stations create air pollution. While EVs contribute vastly less to air pollution than combustion-powered vehicles, fast-charging stations are what a recent study called an 'overlooked source of air pollution.' The US added 703 high-speed charging stations in the second quarter, bringing the total across the country to 11,400, according to Energy Department data. Charging firms are planning to install hundreds more before year-end, making it important to address health risks now before the infrastructure becomes entrenched. The problem 'can be solved,' said Yuan Yao, a co-author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles' Fielding School of Public Health. 'We want to make sure that EV adoption is clean.' The emissions are likely tied to the fans used in direct current fast chargers ' power cabinets. While they help keep equipment cool, the recent study indicates they likely have the unintended side effect of kicking up particles from tires, brakes and dust into the air. Researchers took air quality measurements at 50 direct current fast charging stations in Los Angeles County, California, the majority of which were Tesla Inc. Supercharger locations. The company didn't respond to a request for comment. The average concentration of fine particulate matter in the air at the charging sites was 15.2 micrograms per cubic meter, slightly higher than what researchers found at gas stations and significantly higher than in other urban locations such as parks. Nearly half of the charging sites had daily fine particulate matter emissions that exceeded the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines. (The study focused on non-exhaust emissions and therefore didn't measure many types of pollution related to gas-powered cars.) EV charging companies can include filtration in charging cabinets to mitigate pollution, the study's authors said. They can also avoid putting the chargers near places like schools and residential areas. Some companies say they've already taken measures to reduce the risks of particulate matter. 'On all of our current DC fast chargers, ChargePoint enforces a minimum height for the air intake and exhaust to limit the ingress of dust, debris and water,' said a spokesperson for ChargePoint Holdings Inc. , which operates the largest charging network in the US. The company plans to add air filters to its 'DC chargers to further reduce the risk of dust or water entering the system, or particulates being expelled.' Gas-powered cars are still a much more potent health risk, both because of their emissions and gas stations' environmental impact, said Joe Allen, an air quality expert and professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health who was not involved in the study. Research shows fueling stations are major sources of volatile organic compounds, a category of chemicals that includes the carcinogen benzene, while internal combustion vehicles produce smog-forming pollutants. Greenhouse gas emissions also adversely affect health due to their influence on climate change. 'I'd much rather be charging my EV than filling my gas-powered car at the gas station,' Allen said. 'As we expand EV charging — especially fast-charging stations — we should also pay attention to potential emissions from the charging equipment itself,' Yao said.
Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Automotive
- Toronto Sun
EV fast chargers have a surprising health downside
Published Aug 15, 2025 • 2 minute read A Tesla Inc. Supercharger station in San Francisco. Photo by David Paul Morris / Bloomberg (Bloomberg) — Hundreds of public fast chargers are popping up across the U.S. to serve electric vehicle drivers seeking a cleaner alternative to gas-powered cars. But they come with a surprising risk: Charging stations create air pollution. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account While EVs contribute vastly less to air pollution than combustion-powered vehicles, fast-charging stations are what a recent study called an 'overlooked source of air pollution.' The US added 703 high-speed charging stations in the second quarter, bringing the total across the country to 11,400, according to Energy Department data. Charging firms are planning to install hundreds more before year-end, making it important to address health risks now before the infrastructure becomes entrenched. The problem 'can be solved,' said Yuan Yao, a co-author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles' Fielding School of Public Health. 'We want to make sure that EV adoption is clean.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The emissions are likely tied to the fans used in direct current fast chargers' power cabinets. While they help keep equipment cool, the recent study indicates they likely have the unintended side effect of kicking up particles from tires, brakes and dust into the air. Researchers took air quality measurements at 50 direct current fast charging stations in Los Angeles County, California, the majority of which were Tesla Inc. Supercharger locations. The company didn't respond to a request for comment. The average concentration of fine particulate matter in the air at the charging sites was 15.2 micrograms per cubic meter, slightly higher than what researchers found at gas stations and significantly higher than in other urban locations such as parks. Nearly half of the charging sites had daily fine particulate matter emissions that exceeded the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines. (The study focused on non-exhaust emissions and therefore didn't measure many types of pollution related to gas-powered cars.) This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. EV charging companies can include filtration in charging cabinets to mitigate pollution, the study's authors said. They can also avoid putting the chargers near places like schools and residential areas. Some companies say they've already taken measures to reduce the risks of particulate matter. 'On all of our current DC fast chargers, ChargePoint enforces a minimum height for the air intake and exhaust to limit the ingress of dust, debris and water,' said a spokesperson for ChargePoint Holdings Inc., which operates the largest charging network in the US. The company plans to add air filters to its 'DC chargers to further reduce the risk of dust or water entering the system, or particulates being expelled.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Gas-powered cars are still a much more potent health risk, both because of their emissions and gas stations' environmental impact, said Joe Allen, an air quality expert and professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health who was not involved in the study. Research shows fueling stations are major sources of volatile organic compounds, a category of chemicals that includes the carcinogen benzene, while internal combustion vehicles produce smog-forming pollutants. Greenhouse gas emissions also adversely affect health due to their influence on climate change. 'I'd much rather be charging my EV than filling my gas-powered car at the gas station,' Allen said. 'As we expand EV charging — especially fast-charging stations — we should also pay attention to potential emissions from the charging equipment itself,' Yao said. — With assistance from Kyle Stock. Other Sports World Canada Sunshine Girls Wrestling
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Millions of Google users alarmed after discovering new AI tool they can't turn off — here's the latest on the controversial update
In recent months, the AI revolution has permeated technology companies. From Apple's AI notification summarization to Microsoft's AI email assistance, tech companies are clearly embracing this new tech as the world races toward more advanced and profitable AI methods. Google's Gemini tool is one of the tech industry's many new AI variations, but it has been met with controversy as millions of users seek to disable it. Users have found that those who ignore the Gemini Workspace feature will be nudged with suggestions to "polish" or "help me write" email drafts. As useful as this can be, many users are less than enthusiastic. Financial Times gadget editor Rhodri Marsden summed up one major issue with the tech on Bluesky: "I judge my interactions with people based on *what they wrote*, rather than what Gemini thinks they want to write." Users have also reported having issues turning the technology off, as the Australian Computer Society detailed. Companies are said to be moving full force toward AI to be competitive within the tech industry, but the environmental cost should not be overlooked. AI-driven data centers require vast amounts of materials, with a single 4-pound computer needing 1,763 pounds of resources, and they rely on elements often mined destructively, according to the U.N. Environmental Program. Electronic waste from data centers contains hazardous substances like mercury and lead, while one study projects their water consumption — used for cooling — could soon exceed that of Denmark. Additionally, AI technology has immense energy demands, with an AI request consuming 10 times the electricity of a Google search. In Ireland, AI growth could push data centers to use 32% of the country's electricity by 2026, according to the International Energy Agency. With the number of data centers surging from 500,000 in 2012 to 8 million today, AI's environmental impact is set to escalate further. Efforts to address AI's environmental impact are growing. Over 190 countries have adopted ethical AI guidelines, and the E.U. and U.S. have introduced regulations. The U.N. emphasized the need for stronger environmental safeguards, highlighting an opportunity for governments to integrate sustainability into AI strategies. A Yale researcher, Yuan Yao, further explained options: "Transitioning to renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, and adopting energy-efficient practices can mitigate these negative impacts." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
