Michelin's technological innovation is no longer limited to tires

At the 2011 Bibden Challenge, Michelin showcased five innovative tires and three technological breakthroughs that are no longer limited to the tire itself. These developments have provided solutions to some of the major problems facing the current road transport sector, and all innovations demonstrate the promise of more efficient use of tire materials.

5 innovative tires

Auto-repairing tires: Unique rubber synthetic material allows it to pass through steel spikes without losing the slightest pressure, and immediately plugs holes in the tread. At the same time without sacrificing other tire performance, Michelin tires reflect the "excellent balance of performance." Reducing the frequency of tire replacement means that the number of tires required for production is reduced, and spare tires are no longer needed. The vehicle can reduce nearly 30 kilograms. Driving in cities can reduce CO2 emissions by 1.9 grams per kilometre.

Truck concept tires: Make the twin-axle trailers carry the same payload as the three-axle trailers. Because of the reduced total weight, the trucks are more fuel efficient and can carry more cargo, thus increasing production efficiency.

Small size tire/wheel hub assembly (175/70 R10): Provides the same road performance as a 14-inch tire and can carry 15% more weight than conventional tires, but the space remains the same. New-size prototype tires require less material to be used without affecting the total mileage life and even improve fuel efficiency. The small-size hub device means that the internal space is increased, thereby giving the car manufacturer's design greater flexibility. The reduction in total weight means more vehicle mileage for urban vehicles.

High-narrow tires: have a longer diameter, improve their grip and tire life, and are more energy efficient. The number of wheel revolutions needed to drive a certain distance is less, which increases the battery life by 5%.

The next generation of energy-saving tires: Since 1992, Michelin has developed five generations of car energy-saving tires and three generations of truck fuel-efficient tires, reducing rolling resistance by more than 40%. To date, these tires have reduced nearly 14 billion liters of fuel consumption and more than 35 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide.

Three technical breakthroughs

In-wheel motor technology: Michelin has developed in-wheel motor technology based on the active wheels to help automakers adapt to the changes brought about by the development of electric power systems. Michelin's in-wheel motor integrates an electric power system and a braking system. In this way, it brings a brand new technological solution that can be used to redesign vehicles to make them lighter and more compact. More spacious.

Velroue Project: In collaboration with the government and the French Petroleum/New Energy Institute (IFPEN), Renault and Michelin have jointly launched the Velroue project to test a new dual-mode utility vehicle concept and apply the new technology to hybrid vehicles.

ElLisup Project: In many parts of the world (including Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America), the number of urban population is growing at an unprecedented rate, and the number of mega-cities with more than 10 million residents is constantly increasing. In view of this situation, the large-scale popularization of pure electric buses will certainly become a trend, bringing greater mobility to residents living in developing countries, and also making urban transport in developed countries more environmentally friendly. For example, China is rapidly deploying its large-scale pure electric city transportation system. Michelin believes that urban buses will certainly provide opportunities for the popularization of new technologies such as electric wheels. Moreover, Michelin can also provide unique hub assembly components. Electric wheels with Michelin small-size, low-energy tires will provide energy-efficient solutions while ensuring a more optimal interior space. Based on this goal, Michelin launched the ElLisup project, managed by Irisbus/Iveco and funded by ADEME. The project covers a series of standard 12-meter electric and hybrid buses equipped with lithium batteries and super capacitors. The goal of this project is to develop a hybrid bus and an electric bus so that it can be quickly charged. Further, Michelin’s goal is to promote the electrification of the public transport sector and demonstrate that this type of public transport is economically viable. On these vehicles, the number of axles will increase from two to four, of which two are equipped with electric wheels.