Bridgestone is preparing for the electrification of the automotive industry
Japanese Bridgestone has announced that it will gradually adapt all its tires across all market segments for use on electric vehicles as part of its support for the electrification of the automotive industry.
"As we focus on premium products designed for electric vehicle operation through the use of Enliten technology [which reduces rolling resistance due to reduced tire weight], the direction of our research department is also changing," said Christian Mühlhöfer, Vice President of Bridgestone's Northern European branch. "Our new tires have been designed to be perfect for both internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles with their specific characteristics. Tires made using Enliten technology improve energy efficiency and thus increase the range of electric vehicles. They are also optimized to account for the increased weight and torque of electric vehicles."
A survey conducted by Bridgestone showed that 40% of British drivers plan to buy an electric vehicle by 2028, while in 2022 there were significantly fewer - 29%. The main reason for buying an electric vehicle was cited by every second respondent as potential cost savings, and 45% - as a reduction in environmental damage.
Currently, most of Bridgestone's premium tires are already prepared for use on electric vehicles, and Enliten technology is used, for example, in the production of summer Bridgestone Turanza 6, all-season All Season 6 and winter Blizzak 6. All of them are characterized by reduced rolling resistance and, according to the manufacturer, improve handling, as well as having increased durability and reduced noise.
The company says it can offer tires for any of the top ten most popular electric vehicles on the global market, while the Duravis Van model is also created using Enliten technology and is designed for commercial vehicles. The use of the technology is indicated by the corresponding marking on the sidewalls.
"The mobility sphere is changing rapidly, and we want to help make electric vehicles more efficient and attractive to drivers and fleets," said Mühlhöfer. "Our goal is to offer customers a wide range of high-quality premium tires for any weather conditions."
Although the new tires have their own characteristics, Bridgestone emphasizes that in fact, the main priorities have not changed, and tires should first and foremost provide high traction, quickly stop the vehicle on wet roads, and have a long service life.
"We don't offer special electric vehicle tires on the secondary market, but rather prepare products for use on electric vehicles," Mühlhöfer noted. "This approach significantly simplifies inventory management for our customers and partners, and at the same time reduces costs. At the same time, this strategy ultimately allows us to accelerate the release of new products to the market and flexibly respond to changes in market demand."