Particulate collecting device

A particulate collecting device configured to attach to a vehicle and collect or capture particulates that are released from a tyre or a wheel of the vehicle through wear on or against a driving surface when the vehicle is driven on the driving surface, comprising:

• an electrostatic filter unit for collecting or capturing the particulates in a flow by electrostatic attraction, the electrostatic filter unit mountable in an operative position for receiving a flow of particulates from a contact point between the tyre or wheel and the driving surface, the electrostatic filter unit comprising one or more electrostatically chargeable collector electrodes to attract charged particulates in the flow when the one or more collector electrodes are charged;
• a charging circuit connected to the one or more collector electrodes for electrostatically charging the one or more collector electrodes;
• and
• a control module connectable to the charging circuit to selectively activate and deactivate charging of the one or more collector electrodes in response to one or more detected driving conditions;
• wherein the operative position is such that:
• i) the electrostatic filter unit is positioned in close proximity to a radially outer surface of the tyre, and/or to a contact point or contact area between the tyre and the driving surface;
• ii) the electrostatic filter unit receives an airflow around and/or downstream of the tyre containing said particulates entrained therein;
• and
• iii) the operative position is on an underside of the vehicle and/or behind the wheel.