Introduction to Rechargeable Tires
Electric vehicles are gaining popularity as an eco-friendly alternative to gasoline cars. However, one component of electric vehicles that remains unchanged from traditional cars are the tires. This may soon change with the development of restorable tires that can be wirelessly charged like the battery in an electric car. Several companies are working on prototypes of tires that have sensors and batteries embedded in them.
How Rechargeable Tires Work
Rechargeable Tires have small lithium-ion batteries embedded in the tread or sidewall of the tire. These batteries are charged using wireless induction charging pads similar to wireless charging systems for smartphones and electric vehicles. Sensors inside the tire continuously monitor factors like tire pressure and tread wear. This data is transmitted wirelessly to drivers via smartphone apps. When low on charge, drivers simply park their vehicles over charging pads to top up the tire batteries contactless, without needing to plug in cables. The charged batteries then power the sensors and wireless data transmission capabilities of the tires.
Advantages of Restorable tires
– Extended Tire Life: Embedded sensors can alert drivers of low tread and prevent underinflation, reducing premature wear and extending the useful life of tires. This saves costs of frequent replacements.
– Improved Safety: Real-time tire pressure and performance monitoring enhances road safety compared to periodic manual checks. sudden losses in pressure due to punctures can be detected immediately.
– Convenience: Eliminates the need to manually check tire pressure using gauges or visit gas stations for air refills. Wireless charging makes tire maintenance hassle-free.
– Environmental Benefits: Less frequent tire replacements mean lower resource usage, carbon emissions from tire and vehicle manufacturing are reduced.
Challenges in Developing Rechargeable Tire Technology
While the idea shows promise, bringing restorable tires to market faces some technical challenges:
– Cost: Embedding complex sensor and battery systems increases tire costs significantly over traditional rubber tires. Mass production needs to drive down prices.
– Durability: Tire components need to withstand vibrations and temperature/pressure fluctuations without damage over long usage cycles.
– Charging Efficiency: Ensuring sufficient charge capacity from contactless platforms over the tire’s service life. Batteries may degrade with frequent charge/discharge cycles.
– Regulatory Approval: New tire designs require testing and certification from regulatory bodies like DOT before sale and road use.
The Future of Restorable tires
Major tire and automotive companies continue investing in rechargeable tire research. As technology matures, costs reduce, and regulatory okays are obtained, smart tires with self-inflating abilities and sensor feedback are expected to hit the market by 2025.
In Summary, initially available as options on premium electric vehicles, widespread adoption could follow by 2030. Integration with autonomous driving systems may be another application. Overall, restorable tires promise to elevate on-road safety and convenience to the next level.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it