The perfect way to conserve (and consequently save) energy- use the heat generated by friction on tyres and convert it into electricity. That’s the brilliant idea Goodyear Tyres came up with at the Geneva International Auto Show this week.
Regenerative brakes have been in the scene for quite some time now, but these concept tyres are brand new. Along with the heat, they use vibrations produced to recharge the batteries of your electric car.
Called the BH03, these tyres will possess cutting edge designs along with materials that raise the electricity generation capabilities, as well as the rolling resistance.
This should be a step forward in encouraging battery powered cars and bring consumers out of the hesitancy of using them. Goodyear’s senior vice president and chief technical officer, Joe Zekoski, said:
This concept tire reimagines the role that tyres may play in the future,” adding “We envision a future in which our products become more integrated with the vehicle and the consumer, more environmentally friendly and more versatile.
The designs suggest a layer of thermo-piezoelectric material underneath all that rubber, takes excess heat from the outside of the tyre and converts it into electricity, like when you leave your car in a hot parking lot- black patches on the tyre’s surface will absorb heat from the Sun.
Of course, the concept is in its infancy as of now, pretty vague, and miles away from being a manufacturer’s dream, but this is an astute idea, which should go a long way in solving some basic (and big) problems of energy conservation.