Both cars and trucks have significantly reduced emissions since 1988. Tailpipe emissions of heavy-duty trucks have been reduced by 98.5% since that time. The next effect of this reductions is the total emissions of sixty trucks today equal the emissions of one truck back in 1988.
Today, the largest source of particulate matter generated by vehicles is from tire wear.
Electric vehicles (EV) are significantly heavier than their gas or diesel powered counterparts, 30% heavier. That weight translates to tires wearing 20% faster and releasing more harmful chemicals into the air. A 2022 study by Emission Analytics found that EVs release 1,850 times more particle pollutions compared to those burning fossil fuels.