Goodyear  offered a  sneak peek during  the 2018 Geneva International  Motor Show of its EfficientGrip  Performance with Electric Drive Technology,  a prototype tire for the growing electric vehicle  market that will be on the road by 2019 in Europe.  

Goodyear  testing reveals  that traditional tires  can wear out up to 30%  faster on electric vehicles  due to the powerful, instant  torque from electric motors and  the additional vehicle weight from  heavy battery packs. 

“The  combination  of increasing  regulations to reduce  emissions, the desire to  reduce dependence on fossil  fuels, and rapid gains in battery  technology is creating an ideal environment  for electric vehicles,” said Chris Delaney, President  of Goodyear Europe, Middle East and Africa. “We are working  with automakers to introduce our Electric Drive Technology next  year designed to address the unique performance requirements of this  growing vehicle segment.

”In  addition  to tire durability  requirements, automakers  are pressing for enhanced  rolling resistance on electric  vehicles. Increasing range is a  high priority for consumers due to  an underdeveloped electric recharging infrastructure  in most countries. Quiet and comfort from tires is  another consideration as, at low speeds, electric vehicles  generate as little as half the amount of noise as traditional  vehicles. 

Electric  Drive Technology  

To  address  these challenges,  the EfficientGrip Performance  prototype with Electric Drive Technology  offers these performance solutions: 

• Extended  Mileage from  Innovative Tread  Design: The tread’s  thinner sipes (small channels)  allow for a larger rubber contact  patch on the road surface than traditional  radial grooves. With more rubber on the road,  the tire can better cope with high levels of torque  while maintaining high performance in wet conditions. The  tread design also prevents sound waves from entering its grooves,  reducing interior and exterior tire noise. 
• High-Load-Carrying  Construction: The tire  cavity shape has been optimized  to support the additional vehicle  weight from batteries while maintaining  an optimal tread footprint for high performance.  
• Extended  Driving Range:  The material properties  of the tread compound have  been tuned for ultra-low rolling  resistance to extend the vehicle range  while coping with high levels of torque.  In addition, the sidewall has been designed  to reduce aerodynamic drag and the profile yields  less rotating mass, resulting in reduced energy consumption.  

“As  a company  with a 120-year  heritage of delivering  innovative products that  help change the world of  transport, the EfficientGrip  Performance prototype with Electric  Drive Technology is proof that Goodyear  continues to lead on this path of future  mobility,” Delaney said. 
 

About  Goodyear  Thailand 

Goodyear  Thailand was  established in  1968 and began tire  manufacturing in 1969.  In 1978, Goodyear Thailand  became a publically-limited company.  It now provides original equipment (OE)  and replacement tires for passenger, 4X4/SUV,  light truck, commercial truck and aviation customers  both for domestic and export markets. Goodyear Thailand  also has the only Goodyear facility in Asia Pacific and  one of only two plants globally that manufactures new aviation  tires.