Airless tyres could boost EV performance

Airless tyres are being considered by Toyota to boost electric vehicle performance, mainly through reduced weight.

The automaker tried airless tyres for first time on a new hydrogen concept car revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show, Bloomberg reports.

The Fine Comfort Ride concept is expected to have a 1000km range and include artificial intelligence and automated driving features.

Commercial use of airless tyres is expected to be years away.

Toyota chief engineer Takao Sato says with the tyres comprising a band of rubber around a plastic-aluminium hub, about 30% of each tyre’s weight could be removed by 2025 to compensate for the weight of wheel motors, according to Bloomberg.

Sumitomo Rubber supplied the tyres and has been testing them on minicars and golf carts. It says other Japanese automakers are interested, especially for smaller EVs.

A commercial product could be ready by 2020 with the cost expected to be comparable to standard tyres.