(Goodyear has unveiled a new tire to self-power electric cars.)
Goodyear is working on a new tire for electric cars capable of recharging the car's battery through tire heat and friction.
The BH-03 looks to solve some of the problems of short-mile journeys in an electric car and offer a new way to recharge on the fly.
Shown off at the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show this week, these new tires will be able to add a few extra miles on each journey, and recharge the car while it's parked.
The company has not named any partners for the BH-03 since it's still an early concept, but Tesla Motors, BMW and Volkswagen may all be interested in the multi-purpose tires.
Among the big factors limiting the popularity of electric cars are long journeys and if the electric motors will last long enough. The lack of electric recharging stations is another issue. Goodyear's new tire tackles both issues by recharging while parked and on the road.
It will only be useful in places where the temperature is warm for most of the year since the tires won't heat up if there's no heat. The friction while driving will be available regardless of climate but there are no numbers on how much energy this friction can generate.
Goodyear also unveiled the 'Triple Tube' tire capable of adjusting tire inflation on the fly depending on the type of road. It removes the need for multiple tires when going on multi-terrain drives.
"These concept tires reimagine the role that tires may play in the future," said Goodyear's senior vice president and chief technical officer, Joe Zekoski,. "We envision a future in which our products become more integrated with the vehicle and the consumer, more environmentally friendly and more versatile."
Goodyear didn't give a release date for the two new tires, but it's clear the company wants to be part of the future of the next gen cars with these innovations.
