Goodyear Concept BH03 electricity generating tires

Not just cost of the tires would be an issue, but the cost of the equipment to collect to electricity for the car. I wonder if its life is long enough and the gains would be big enough to use it in all the bushings and mounts for the body, engine, suspension, etc. Might cost more per car than a set of tires, but those individual pieces generally are 'life of the car' parts.

Those of us using higher than placard tire pressures to reduce rolling resistance likely won't see has much electric gain.

 

Look at this video from Goodyear. Notice the Toyota logo on the center of the tires and also that the CH-R concept is featured. Possibly upcoming for gen IV Prius? Probably not but interesting!

 

Interesting. Maybe that's the Gen4 Prius.

 

Since you continue to disregard Toyota's pro-electricity stance, that belief is no surprise.

 

It wasn't until I saw the video that the tire began to make sense as a 'cooling' system. As tires flex, they follow a hysteresis curve:

The amount of energy lost, tire rolling resistance, is a function of the area inside the curve. If warming the rubber increases the area, the tire rolling resistance would go up. But generating electricity instead of heat would help keep the rolling resistance lower and the tire more efficient.

Although the video shows the electricity going to the car, say the 12V buss, it would be equally OK to operate an electric cooling device in the wheel to suck more heat from the tire inflation air. Might as well power an active pressure management system in the wheel. But I'm not calling it a practical system.

A lot of interesting technology starts with a "Beta":


Bob Wilson

 

I think Toyota is being realistic about the limitations of plugins. They have said they need a breakthrough in energy density for BEV to make sense and they are working on all-solid and Lithium-air battery technologies.

Not sure how much these tires can regen but it will sure help to extend the range a little. Everything counts.



Toyota's Strategy for Environmental Technologies | TOYOTA GLOBAL SITE

 

Which is fine, but they aren't the only ones working on improved batteries. While they offer what appears to be a token effort in terms of plugins, their competitors are growing their plugin market share, experience, and reputation. The reason no one has successfully taken the Prius is because everybody was late to the party. Toyota is going to be late to the plugin party.

Just powering the required TPMS beyond its current 5 year service life may make it worthwhile then.

 

How are they going to work in the real world? Is the tire jockey at the local STS going to be able to cope with them? They have a hard enough time trying not to break the TPMS.

 

i'm just glad to see that all possible energy sources are being researched.

 

You would lose 25% power when you have a flat tire.