By Courtesy of BMW
BMW and Pirelli have developed an innovative winter tire capable of increasing the range of an electric vehicle by up to 50 kilometers. For the moment, it has been developed solely for the BMW 7 Series, but the technology should soon be rolling out to the German automaker's other models.
BMW and Pirelli have developed an innovative winter tire capable of increasing the range of an electric vehicle by up to 50 kilometers. For the moment, it has been developed solely for the BMW 7 Series, but the technology should soon be rolling out to the German automaker's other models.
With a view to the gradual phase-out of sales of new combustion-powered vehicles, many carmakers are working with tire manufacturers to develop ever more durable and environmentally-friendly tires, specially tailored for electric cars.
The latest example is the new 20-inch Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 tires, specially developed for the BMW 7 Series to enhance comfort and range in winter conditions, on any surface. Compared to summer tires, winter tires have an impact on the car's range due to higher rolling resistance, here optimized to offer perfect grip on cold, wet or snow-covered asphalt. All in all, this tire could save up to 50 km of range per charge. It will be available for the BMW 7 Series from August 2024. The aim is then to deploy this new technology to other electric models in the BMW range. This approach is in line with Pirelli's Perfect Fit strategy, which aims to develop specific tires for each model of car it equips.
In 2022, the Indian group Apollo Tyres announced the launch in Europe of the very first all-season tire designed specifically for electric vehicles \-- battery-powered and hybrid. They have been designed not only to support the heavy weight of this type of vehicle, but also to be as quiet as possible. Unlike winter tires, there's no need to change them, other than in the event of accidents or exceptional conditions. The main feature of these tires is their rolling resistance, which is almost 15% lower than that of equivalent conventional tires, thereby significantly increasing the electric car's range.
