Tyre technology pact with Michelin to boost Hyundai’s EV performance

Hyundai and Michelin have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to conduct research and development (R&D) for making next-generation tyres for premium electric vehicles (EVs) and this would certainly boost the performance of Hyundai cars.

 

This R&D would be done over a period of three years. Both the companies will conduct joint research in a bid to develop eco-friendly tyres. To do this, the duo plans to significantly increase the usage of sustainable materials.

Good tyres can boost the performance
of an electric vehicle.

This pact has given their five-year relationship, which was sealed between the two companies in 2017, a further boost.

According to Hyundai, the last agreement paved the way for jointly developing an exclusive tyre for the Ioniq 5 EV. The agreement would also lead to research and technology exchange.

Following the extension of the pact, besides creating sustainable tyres for next-generation electric vehicles, Hyundai and Michelin also plan to develop a real-time tyre monitoring system.

The tyres of a car play an important role in its performance. It not only helps to rev up seamlessly, but also boosts the braking power of a vehicle, giving the safety feature of any car a huge leg up.

Also, it gives a further fillip to the grip on the road as well as the distance travelled on a single charge. This move by Hyundai will help the carmaker take its autonomous driving technology to a whole new level.

Hyundai has said this new tyre technology is important because it needs to meet durability requirements as well as driving performance. It also has to beef up electric efficiency as the driving range for EVs is increasing.

Vice-president and head of chassis development centre at Hyundai Motor Group said, “This pact with Michelin will lead to real innovations in tyre technology. It would solidify Hyundai Motor Group’s position as a leader in the smart-mobility industry.”

Indeed, if this tyre pact gives a manifold boost to the performance of its cars, it could lead to many car buyers opting for Hyundai’s EVs.

Hyundai and Michelin have big plans lined up. They will conduct an in-depth joint research to analyse tyre wear, tyre load and road friction. This is beyond the standard check of just the tyre temperature and air pressure.

According to the carmaker, these new tyres are likely to improve a driver’s comfort level by reducing vibration and noise generated by EVs, when they travel at high speeds.

Both the partners said they would strive to increase the usage of eco-friendly materials in the new hi-tech tyres to about 50 per cent from 20 per cent now.

Hyundai and Michelin’s tyre tech pact is set to give car buffs a seamless ride on the auto giant’s EVs as their performance would improve substantially and this would surely give a big boost to the South Korean major’s sales numbers.