Tyres produce electricity

A new technology to generate electric power from tyre rotation while driving has been developed by Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) and Kansai University in Japan.

By installing an energy harvester inside a tyre, static electricity can be converted to clean energy, the research undertaken by professor Hiroshi Tani of Kansai University found.

This energy harvester takes advantage of a type of static electricity called frictional charging, which is formed each time a tyre’s footprint deforms as it rotates along the road.

The technology holds great potential for practical applications such as a power source for many automotive digital tools such as sensors used in Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) and other automotive devices without the need for batteries.

It may even lead to assisting in the recharge of electric vehicle batteries, much as regenerative braking already does.

SRI has been working to introduce new automotive solution services using tools that take advantage of a wide range of data. This follows the ‘Smart Tyre Concept’ development from SRI that aims to respond to the sweeping changes in the automotive industry and demand for greater safety and environmental performance for consumers.