Electric Supercars And Their Shoes: Manufacturers Now Working On Special Tyres For EVs
Pirelli&rsquos Elect P Zero tyres are specifically created to suit electric cars. Pirelli is one of several tyre makers adapting to the change. Continental and Goodyear are a couple of them.
As electric drivetrains take over the world of automobiles, the corresponding components of the vehicles are also on their way to a major transition. Don¡¯t believe this? Have a look at the two electric supercars unveiled at this year¡¯s Geneva Motor Show, the Pininfarina Battista and the Italdesign DaVinci. A class apart, both have one thing in common apart from the electric motors, both sport Pirelli¡¯s Elect P Zero tyres.
Specifically created to suit electric cars, the Elect P Zero are Pirelli¡¯s way of preparing itself for the ongoing transition. Matteo Battaini, Pirelli¡¯s head of strategic marketing, commented on the move, ¡°The change to electric cars is a reality and it¡¯s coming fast. We are reacting.¡± The testimony comes as a ¡°J¡± on the side markings on the P Zero tyres.
It is not just Pirelli though. Several other tyre makers are adapting to the change. Continental and Goodyear are a couple of them.
Pirelli Pzero Winter (Image: Pirelli)
The transition has not been an easy one. The Pirelli Elect P Zero, for example, come as a result of a couple of years of collaboration of the company with the car makers. The tyres, after all, have to suit the vehicle¡¯s built, specifics, balance as well as drive characteristics. This is achieved after a considerable time spent on research and development.
The R&D is crucial. Conventional tyres can wear out considerably faster in electric vehicles which have a much higher torque than the IC engine vehicles, resulting in higher acceleration. The companies, hence, have to use a softer compound in the tyres.
Another differentiation comes in the form of the battery weight, usually at the floor of the car, for which harder material on the sidewalls has to be used to allow the tyres to support the added weight.
Efficiency also has to be kept in mind and as per Battaini, an optimal EV tyre can extend driving range by as much as five to 10 percent. Vice-versa also holds true, if the specific tyre of an EV is interchanged with that of a conventional gasoline vehicle, it will bring down the overall range of the car.
Pirelli PZero Electric (Image: Pirelli)
Also read: Elon Musk Completes His S3XY Lineup With Tesla Model Y, Which Is Coming Soon Next Year
Much attention is also given to the sound generated by these tyres at the time of their movement. Since EVs are much more silent than IC engine vehicles, the tyre makers have to make sure there is no high-pitched noise from the tyres and to use dampers accordingly. Pirelli, for instance, uses its own ¡°Pirelli Noise Cancelling System¡± for this.
Battaini says that several development projects by Pirelli are underway for as much as 50 different electric vehicles. Others are also in the process, Goodyear for instance, unveiled its ¡®EfficientGrip Performance¡¯ tyres with Electric Drive Technology which reduce the wear from high torque. Similarly, Continental Tyres came up with its Conti.eContact.
With all the major tyre companies preparing their product lineup for electric vehicles, it will not take long before these products are widely available in the global markets and have a visible distinction from those used for the IC engine vehicles.
