Skip to main content

Tyres ‘could charge EV batteries’

Unveiled at the recent Geneva Motor Show, two concept tyres by Goodyear could radically change the role of car tyres in the future according to the company. The first concept, named BHO3, offers the possibility of charging the batteries of electric cars by transforming the heat generated by the rolling tyre into electrical energy. The second concept, Triple Tub, contains three tubes that adjust tyre inflation pressure in response to changing road conditions, delivering new levels of performance and versatil
March 11, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
Unveiled at the recent Geneva Motor Show, two concept tyres by 843 Goodyear could radically change the role of car tyres in the future according to the company.

The first concept, named BHO3, offers the possibility of charging the batteries of electric cars by transforming the heat generated by the rolling tyre into electrical energy. The second concept, Triple Tub, contains three tubes that adjust tyre inflation pressure in response to changing road conditions, delivering new levels of performance and versatility.

The BHO3 tyre generates electricity through the action of materials in the tyre that capture and transform the energy created by heat when it flexes as it rolls during normal driving conditions. The materials used would optimise the tire’s electricity generation capabilities as well as its rolling resistance.

As demand for electric cars grows, Goodyear says this technology has the potential to significantly contribute to the solution of future mobility challenges and could eliminate the vehicle-range anxiety motorists may have with electric cars.

Triple Tube features three internal tubes located beneath the tread and near the inboard and outboard shoulders of the tyre as well as the centre. The tyre relies on an internal pump that moves air from the main air chamber to the three individual air chambers, or tubes. The tyre automatically adjusts, on its own, to three different positions based on road conditions.

“These concept tyres re-imagine the role that tires may play in the future,” said Joe Zekoski, Goodyear’s senior vice president and chief technical officer. “We envision a future in which our products become more integrated with the vehicle and the consumer, more environmentally friendly and more versatile.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • EVs & smart cities: Tritium keeps things moving
    December 3, 2018
    Electric vehicles are widely expected to play a major role in the smarter, cleaner cities of the future. Paul Sernia explains why – and looks at the place of ultra-rapid chargers as part of a versatile public infrastructure Electric vehicles (EVs) are widely expected to play a major role in the smarter, cleaner cities of the future. With no dirty tailpipe, EVs can help improve the polluted air of inner cities. And when deployed as widely shared assets – through car clubs, ride-sharing services and taxi
  • Transportation’s electrifying future
    August 1, 2023
    Climbing out of our silos will be vital to create the frameworks and networks needed to decarbonise transport, if we are serious about mitigating climate change, says Colin Sowman
  • Dynamic charging boosts electric vehicles’ potential
    December 16, 2014
    With an increasing need to use electric vehicles in city centres to reduce pollution, David Crawford looks at various solutions to power delivery. The UN’s September 2014 Climate Summit has added fresh momentum to the drive to increase urban electric vehicle (EV) takeup. It has launched the Urban Electric Mobility Initiative, which wants to see EVs accounting for 30% of all urban travel by 2030, and make cities worldwide more friendly to their use. Encouragingly, the plan is being well supported by commerci
  • Goodyear announces intelligent tyre trial for semi-autonomous fleet
    September 11, 2017
    Tyre manufacturer Goodyear is applying its expertise to a fleet of semi-autonomous electric cars, by equipping Tesloop, a city-to-city mobility service that exclusively uses Tesla electric vehicles, with wireless sensors in its tyres to improve overall tyre management and maximise uptime for its growing fleet. The wireless sensors continuously measure and record tyre temperature and pressure, which is paired with other vehicle data and connected to Goodyear’s cloud-based proprietary algorithms to enhan