Hyundai and Michelin collaborate on high-end electric vehicle tires

South Korea's Hyundai Motor Group and French tire maker Michelin have announced an expanded alliance todevelop next-generation tires for high-endelectric vehicles , according to foreign media reports.

Image credit: Hyundai Motor Group

The two companies established a partnership in November 2017 to jointly develop tires dedicated to the Hyundai IONIQ 5 pure electric vehicle, and conduct tire-related experiments to discuss analytical methods and communication techniques.Over the next three years, Hyundai Motor Group and Michelin will jointly develop more eco-friendly tires using eco-friendly materials, tires optimized for next-generation electric vehicles, and real-time tire monitoring systems that help advance autonomous driving technology.

This expansion of the partnership will start a new journey to develop the next generation of tires to be equipped with Hyundai Motor Group's clean, smart and sustainable mobility solutions.

Over the next three years, Hyundai Motor said it will improve the durability, range and fuel efficiency of electric vehicle tires that should withstand high loads.The two parties will also carry out joint research to comprehensively monitor tire wear, tire load and road friction, which will be used in vehicle control systems.

The next-generation tires developed under the partnership will be used in Hyundai Motor Group's future high-end electric vehicle models.As the driving range of electric vehicles continues to increase, new tire technologies are critical to meet tire durability requirements as well as drivability and electric efficiency under high loads.

Hyundai Motor Group and Michelin plan to conduct joint research to analyze tire wear, tire load and road friction beyond current tire temperature and air pressure standards.The new tires are also expected to significantly improve driver ride comfort by reducing vibration and noise generated by electric vehicles at high speeds.

In addition, the two parties will explore how to increase the use of environmentally friendly materials in tires from the current 20% to 50%.

Kim Bong-soo, head of Hyundai Motor's R&D department, said: "Through the technical cooperation with Michelin, we will maximize the technical capabilities of both companies to significantly improve the drivability of the vehicle."