Porsche has announced plans to continue producing vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICEs). In a recent strategic shift, the company is investing approximately €800 million into developing new combustion engines and plug-in hybrid models. This decision comes amid a decline in demand for fully electric vehicles, leading Porsche to adjust its product lineup to include more ICE and hybrid options.

EVs are generally heavier than traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles due to their batteries. This added weight, combined with higher torque, leads to faster tire wear, resulting in approximately 20% more particulate pollution from tires compared to ICE vehicles.

Producing a new tire emits about 31 kg of CO₂, while retreading a tire produces approximately 22 kg of CO₂. The higher weight and performance demands of EVs may necessitate more frequent tire replacements, thereby increasing overall emissions from tire production.

Impact on Infrastructure

Road and Bridge Wear: EVs' additional weight can contribute to increased wear on roads and bridges. For instance, a 2,000-pound increase in axle weight can cause 50% more damage to pavement. 

The Tucker 48, also known as the Tucker Torpedo, was an innovative automobile developed by Preston Tucker in 1948. The car was intended to be a revolutionary vehicle that would challenge the dominance of the "Big Three" automakers—Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. Despite its potential, only 50 Tucker 48s were produced before the company was forced to shut down.

The Tucker 48 featured a central headlight that swiveled with the steering wheel, providing better illumination when turning. This "Cyclops Eye" was an innovative safety feature aimed at improving nighttime driving visibility.The windshield was designed to pop out in the event of a collision, reducing the likelihood of injury from shattered glass.

The dashboard was padded to reduce injuries during accidents, a feature ahead of its time.

The Tucker 48 was powered by a rear-mounted, horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine originally developed for aircraft. This engine produced around 166 horsepower, which was impressive for its time.

The car featured a torque converter transmission that eliminated the need for a traditional clutch, making driving smoother and more comfortable.