Electric vehicle manufacturers are working feverishly to crush range anxiety. Battery capacities are rising. Chargers are getting faster. Soon, even an EV’s tires will be making a small contribution.
We’re not talking about lower rolling resistance, either. Japanese tiremaker Sumitomo has revealed a prototype “Smart Tyre” that actually produces usable electricity while you drive. To be clear, this happens in the tire itself — not the wheel.
Sumitomo partnered with Kansai University to find a way to harness frictional charging, which is when electrons transfer between two objects as they’re rubbed together.
Most tires made today use a layered design of liners, belts, and sidewalls beneath the tread. Sumitumo’s prototype tire inserts two thin films, one with a positive charge and one with a negative charge.
Frictional charging using deformation of tire footprint. (Credit: Sumitomo)
Tires don’t stay round once they’re installed on a vehicle. They deflect as they roll and that causes the films to rub against each other. That produces a charge which is captured by a power generating device affixed to the inside of the tire.
Sumitomo is understandably excited about the possibilities here. The company believes that the Smart Tyre will allow manufacturers to “make use of various digital tools without any need for batteries.” Tire pressure monitoring sensors (TPMS) are an excellent candidate, but just about any low-power sensor or device in a vehicle could be wired in.
Continued development on the Smart Tyre concept will be supported by Japan Science and Technology Agency. Government support should help Sumitomo shorten the length of time it takes to turn its prototype into something that can be reliably mass-produced.
The next big hurdle will be convincing automakers to get onboard. Historically they haven’t always been quick to embrace innovations, but the industry today is a bit different — thanks to increased competition from upstarts like Tesla and Rivian and the desires of tech-hungry consumers.
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