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As an electric vehicle driver, you’re probably used to a cleaner, quieter experience. You’ve also probably seen left behind rainbow-coloured stains on the tarmac of streets and car parks. More than a sign of car issues, these colourful leaks are a form of harmful pollution that cars produce beyond their exhaust pipes. Fortunately, these are environmental hazards from internal combustion engine (ICE) cars that EV and hybrid owners are helping eliminate. EV and hybrid cars are an advanced ecological investment in more ways than one.
Petrol cars pollute through harmful emissions and chemical leaks. The former comes out of the exhaust, while the latter drips from the vehicle’s bottom.
Pollution is a national health crisis that tailpipe emissions directly contribute to. The average passenger vehicle generates around 143.0 grams per kilometre annually. On top of CO2, a greenhouse gas, exhaust fumes also contain pollutants like nitrogen oxides that directly harm human health. It’s why governments only allow vehicles that pass emissions tests on the roads.
Consider the Dieselgate scandal. In 2015, the United States Environmental Protection Agency exposed Volkswagen for using “defeat devices” to cheat emissions tests. Years later, its environmental impact continues. The excess pollution emitted as a result of this scandal has caused more than 16,000 deaths in the UK and around 30,000 asthma cases in children.
Leaks are an equally important problem. A petrol car’s environmental impact doesn’t stop once the engine is off, as its complex fluid system hides a constant, silent threat of pollution.
A typical combustion engine is a high-heat, high-vibration setup with components that naturally degrade over time. That means leaks are a matter of “when,” not “if.” Unfortunately, each iridescent stain in car parks is a toxic chemical spill that contributes to a cumulative environmental problem.
Here are some of the toxic fluids essential to an ICE vehicle’s operation:
• Engine oil: Lubricates the engine but picks up heavy metals and becomes toxic sludge
• Coolant: Regulates engine temperature and is extremely poisonous to animals, which are attracted to its sweet taste
• Petrol and diesel: Release volatile organic compounds that contribute to smog
• Power steering and transmission fluid: Maintain gear changes and steering efficiency
A small drip on a driveway or road won’t stay in place. The next rainfall can wash it into storm drains, which often lead to local rivers and coastal waters without any filtration. Not to mention, many car fluids can affect vehicle performance and safety when they’re insufficient due to a leak.
Hydraulic fluid leaks can have severe, yet often underestimated, consequences on the environment and on everyone aboard the vehicle. As an essential power steering fluid, it helps turn the wheels, especially at low speeds. If it’s at insufficient levels due to a leak, it can cause poor movement and erratic operation, making driving risky.
The fluid is kept under immense pressure. A pinhole in a hose can turn it into a fine, nearly invisible, high-velocity jet, which can cause a hydraulic injection injury.
Hydraulic fluid is also toxic, thanks to its chemical additives, which are designed to prevent corrosion and resist heat. When it leaks, it doesn’t just wash away. It persists in the environment, poisoning soil so it can’t sustain plant life and contaminating groundwater and rivers.
An electric motor has far fewer moving parts and no need for engine oil, eliminating the biggest source of vehicle leaks. Moreover, all-electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions. While plug-in hybrids produce emissions while running on petrol, they’re significantly lower than ICE cars.
Electric driving isn’t a niche movement in Europe. Battery-electric vehicles have captured a 16.4% market share as of October 2025, surpassing the previous year’s 13.2%. Meanwhile, hybrid-electric cars remain EU consumers’ preferred EV choice, accounting for 34.6% of the market.
Critics of EVs often argue that the emissions created during battery manufacturing and electricity generation are as — if not more — excessive as those produced by ICE cars. However, data shows otherwise. The life cycle emissions of battery electric cars are 73% less than their petrol-powered counterparts, including their production processes.
On top of that, electric vehicles also have lower upstream emissions. Extracting, refining and transporting petrol involve complex and energy-intensive processes that produce significant greenhouse gases. Alternatively, EVs only need electricity, which is generated more efficiently. The gradual shift of Europe’s grid to renewable energy resources further reduces the carbon footprint.
Non-exhaust emissions are physical particles released from a vehicle that don’t come from the tailpipe. They’re typically a product of the natural wear-and-tear of driving. Common examples include:
• Tyre wear: As a car’s tyres grip the road, they constantly shed microscopic particles, such as synthetic rubber and microplastics. These are left on the road and often washed into waterways.
• Brake wear: When the brake pad grinds against a metal disc to brake, the action releases a fine dust made of metallic particles and other composites. These are released into the air and the surrounding environment.
EVs are generally heavier than petrol vehicles due to the weight of their battery pack, which can lead to increased tyre wear. However, they also create fewer brake particles. When you lift your foot off the accelerator in an EV, the motor runs in reverse, slowing the car while sending power back to the battery. The motor handles much of the braking, which means the driver uses the physical brake pads less frequently.
ICE pollution is the story of toxic exhaust fumes and a constant, toxic drip of chemicals on the road. EVs tackle both problems head-on by eliminating tailpipe emissions and the automotive fluid system that causes leaks. That means your decision to drive an electric car is more than a personal choice. It’s an active vote for cleaner air, healthier rivers and safer communities — a tangible contribution to a better future.
