Show tyre for electric truck

Tyre manufacturer Continental has developed the Conti e.MotionPro for the MAN CitE electric truck from truck manufacturer MAN. It is designed to act as a starting point for the development of tyres for electric commercial vehicles.

According to Continental, tyres for electric commercial vehicles have different requirements, especially with regards to mileage optimisation and rolling resistance as Klaus Kreipe, head of original equipment truck tyres at Continental, explained, “Electric vehicles can temporarily be fitted with conventional tires. However, the new powertrains and the new vehicle concepts that are sometimes associated with them will change the requirements for commercial vehicle tyres. We are currently making use of partnerships to gain valuable experience for the development of tires for electric trucks and buses.”

Together with commercial vehicle manufacturers and municipal bus companies, Continental wants to develop tyres with cutting-edge technologies for the start of production of electric vehicles, Kreipe added.

The striking tyre was produced at Continental’s production plant in Púchov, Slovakia. The sidewall shell was manufactured by hand and blue paint applied to the sidewall while the tyre was heated. The custom-made profile was then refined by tyre carvers in Stöcken, Hanover. At the same time, small rubber parts were pasted into the grooves by hand. Continental is one of the few tire manufacturers that can manually produce individual designs in small quantities.