EV Fast chargers linked to unexpected air pollution

Experts have uncovered new information that reveals Teslas are not as ‘healthy’ as some people might have you think.

New research has uncovered a hidden health risk with EV fast chargers:

DC fast chargers are stirring up fine particulate pollution at levels high enough to breach global health standards.

A study led by the University of California, Los Angeles, measured air quality at 50 public fast-charging stations across Los Angeles County, many of them Tesla Superchargers, and found that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) spiked to an average of 15.2 micrograms per cubic metre.

“We want to make sure that EV adoption is clean,” University of California, Los Angeles’ postdoctoral researcher Yuan Yao said.

The number is higher than levels recorded at petrol stations in the United States and the World Health Organisation’s daily air quality guideline.

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In an aerial view, electric vehicles sit parked at a Tesla charging station. Picture: AFP

Australia’s fast charging infrastructure is rapidly scaling up. As of the end of June 2025, the nation had more than 1300 public fast-charging sites.

Harvard University professor Joe Allen stresses that EVs are still vastly cleaner than combustion cars and that petrol stations release volatile organic compounds, including benzene, a known carcinogen, on top of internal combustion engines that emit pollutants and greenhouse gases.

“I would much rather be charging my EV than filling my gasoline-powered car at the gas station,” he said.

The air particles are not generated by the chargers themselves but produced by the powerful cooling fans.

The researchers found that nearly half of the charging stations recorded daily fine particulate, emissions breaching WHO guidelines.

The United States (US) is just about to launch more than 700 new high-speed charging stations, and Australia is actively rolling out new charging stations.

According to the University, exposure to PM2.5 can be serious.

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Public charging is expanding across Australia. Picture: Brad Fleet

The particles are small enough to travel deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, where they have been linked to heart disease, respiratory illness and premature death.

UCLA environmental health science professor Michael Jerett said for people with pre-existing conditions, the “risks are even greater”.

“For anyone, exposure to fine particles can contribute to health issues, and for those with existing conditions or heightened sensitivity, the risks are even greater,” he said.

Experts warn that action is needed now to prevent any health-related problems as charging networks expand.

Suggested fixes include installing filtration systems in charging cabinets, raising air intakes higher off the ground to minimise dust and avoiding installations near schools or residential areas.

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