Michelin paves the way for its future this Wednesday. The Clermont-Ferrand group unveiled this Wednesday two prototypes of tires made of composite materials, up to 45 to 58%. These tires have been approved for the road, although they have not yet been released on the market.
Natural rubber, recycled carbon black
“Michelin owes this progress to a greater use of natural rubber, as well as to the integration of recycled carbon black, oils such as sunflower oil and biologically derived resins, silica from rice husks, or even recycled steel into its tires,” specifies the group in a press release. In fact, the tire manufacturer targets “global production obtained from 100% bio-based, renewable or recycled materials by 2050, with a 40% increase in 2030.”
But before the commercialization of these new generation tires in a period of 2 to 3 years, the group faces another challenge: the electrification of the fleet.
“An electric vehicle must carry the weight of the batteries and therefore it is heavier, it has a different weight distribution. In a conventional vehicle you consume more front tires than the rear ones. In an electric vehicle you consume in the same way in front and behind”, explains Florent Menegaux.
The very structure of the tires must be worked on because it has a direct impact on autonomy: 20% of its consumption comes from the tyres.
Tires put to the test with the electric car
However, if the widespread use of electric cars often represents an economic challenge for vehicle maintenance – in fact, electric vehicles require fewer parts to change than thermal ones – it is turning out to be a real opportunity for the manufacturer of tires.
“As the vehicle is heavier, and especially because you are going to use the vehicle dynamics to recharge the batteries, you are constantly under torque, which puts a lot of pressure on the tire, continues Florent Ménégaux. Having tires that last a long time is a lot more difficult in an electric vehicle.
This means changing tires more often, following the reasoning of the Michelin boss.
How Michelin intends to face the energy crisis
A large consumer of energy through its gas ovens, Michelin, like many manufacturers, has sought solutions to overcome possible supply cuts. Florent Ménégaux is quite confident before our microphone in the capacity of the Clermont-Ferrand group to continue its activity this winter, “confident in the solidity of [ses] continuity plans.
“Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, […] we had begun to look at all the alternative energies that we could have so that our manufacturing tools would continue to work, Florent Ménégaux confides in us. For example, all of our gas ovens can be converted to oil, so you can switch between them quite easily. And when that is not possible, we have rented diesel boilers to be able to operate”.
Source: BFM TV
