The electricity generating concept tyre
Goodyear has unveiled its latest concept technology at this year’s Geneva International Motor Show – a futuristic tyre the manufacturer says has the capacity to produce its own electricity.
Conceived by Goodyear's Innovation Centre, and known by its development code BH03, the tyre can transform generated deformation and vibrations into electrical energy, explains the company in a statement.
“As interest for electric cars grows in the global marketplace, this type of innovation is expected to play a role in ongoing discussions on the future of mobility.”
However, warns Goodyear, the “tyre is a purely conceptual development and is designed to be part of the company's innovation thought-process. There is no plan to release this tyre to the market”.
"Concerns about energy and the environment drove us to develop this energy producing concept tyre,” adds Jean-Pierre Jeusette, general director at the Goodyear Innovation Center in Luxembourg.
“Every futuristic idea starts with a societal challenge that we aim to address as we work to build a better future. We are highly convinced that this tyre provides inspiration, and that its insights will have a place in future development."
The concept tyre creates electrical energy that supplies the batteries of the car's hybrid powertrain, as well as other on-board technologies. The tyre generates electricity via the action of two types of material.
The first is a thermoelectric material that transforms the heat ¬– generated inside the tyre by the ultrablack texture in static condition by light/heat absorption, or by its rolling when moving – into electric energy.
The second is a piezoelectric material that transforms pressure, owing to structure deformation and vibrations, into electric energy.
These new materials form a three-dimensional network that constitutes the inner structure of the tyre.
This structure could potentially support the load of a car if the tyre is punctured, as an alternative approach to run-flat technology.
Additionally, it features a large circumferential channel to improve aquaplaning resistance, and an unique tread to absorb noise.