Energy, this expensive resource is the key to the development of future vehicles. It is known from gasoline and diesel, more recently from hydrogen and electricity, and wind and sun. But what if your tires became energy producers?
This is what Sumitomo wants to put in place with tires that can create energy. Not really create, more recover the energy lost when rolling to make it accessible again.
In fact, the technique used makes it possible to use the movement of a tire so that it can collect and store small amounts of electricity as it slides along the road.
According to the tire manufacturer, the energy is recovered through a power generation device called “energy recuperator” mounted on the floor of a tire. As the vehicle moves and the tire flexes, static electricity is generated at each temporary deformation of the rubber in a process called “friction charging”.
But don’t hold your breathe until this energy allows you to propel your car. If all goes well, it could ultimately fuel your tire pressure sensors, or some other small electronic components. Forget about recharging your battery!
No plans are yet planned to commercialize this energy recovery tire, made in collaboration with a Japanese university. But the tire company Sumitomo wants to continue its research and maximize, if necessary, the recovery of energy in other sectors of the automobile.