As electric vehicles move into the mainstream, tyremakers are slowly focussing R&D on developing tyres which are more specifically engineered to meet the specific handling and range requirements. This will be especially so with the new generation of electrically-powered sportscars like the Porsche Taycan. Issues like weight and rolling resistance will have a great priority.
Specifically for electric sportscars
Michelin’s Pilot Sport EV is the first tyre from the French company which is designed to address the specific demands made by electric sportscars. It is the result of the unique experience acquired by Michelin’s involvement in the all-electric single-seater Formula E racing series.
Technological experience from Formula E
A founding partner of Formula E, Michelin proposed a specific solution for the championship’s racing cars that is similar in its concept to a road tyre. The Michelin Formula E tyre is capable of racing in any weather conditions, while its size – 18 inches – is consistent with current road-car norms.
One example of how the Pilot Sport EV benefits directly from the progress Michelin has achieved over 6 seasons in Formula E is the ElectricGrip Compound technology. This features a hard compound for the centre of the tread to provide the grip required to handle high torque characteristics of electric sports cars. The sidewalls carry over the same pattern and velvet-finish markings of Michelin’s Formula E tyre.
Additionally, MaxTouch Construction maximizes the tyre’s contact with the road and evenly distribute the forces of acceleration, braking and cornering – delivering longer tread life without sacrificing performance.
Quieter and further
Electric cars run quietly so the tyres will also have to be as quiet as possible. To achieve this, Michelin engineers have cut out 20% of road noise using the company’s Acoustic technology which takes the form of a custom-developed polyurethane foam that reduces cabin noise.
There is the promise of optimal grip on dry and wet road – irrespective of the tyre’s level of wear – taking into account the higher weight and weight-distribution characteristics associated with electric sportscars. Resistance to wear is also tailored in response to the high torque and acceleration forces generated by electric powertrains.
The tyre’s low rolling resistance is claimed to extend operating range by up to 60 kms. This has been calculated in a Rolling Resistance internal study comparing a 255/45 R19 Pilot Sport EV (6.7 kg/t) with the same-sized Pilot Sport 4 SUV (8.8 kg/t). In the case of an electric vehicle weighing 2,151 kgs with a range of 540 km, the difference (2.1 kg/t) equates to more than 60 kms of additional range, or more than 10% of the original range.
Carbon-neutral throughout
The new tyre is also an eco-responsible product and will be CO2-neutral at the point of sale. Michelin has cut CO2 emissions from its industrial sites by 25% since 2010 and aims at their carbon neutrality by 2050.
In order to achieve carbon neutrality throughout the life of its tyre and address the demands of electric sportscar owners, Michelin has pledged to neutralize the CO2 emissions associated with the tyre’s production and transport to its point of sale. This process includes the financing of projects aimed at offsetting and absorbing the residual CO2 emissions associated with tyre production through the Livelihoods carbon fund until the day comes when it will be possible to eliminate them entirely.
The Pilot Sport EV will go on sale from April 2021, starting with the China market, followed by Europe and North America from the third quarter of this year. By 2024, Michelin plans to increase its sales in the high-growth markets by a factor of eight.
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