For those contemplating an electric car, whether in the near or distant future, ‘range anxiety’ could be a significant barrier to entry.
But tyre maker Goodyear may have an answer to worries over running out of electricity: a tyre that can take the heat generated through driving and transform it into electric energy.
The snappily-titled BH09 is just a concept at present, but it does show how this key concern could be addressed.
Central to the design is a layer of thermo-piezoelectric material, but aside from furnishing us with this techy-sounding term, Goodyear are, perhaps understandably, remaining tight-lipped about the technology behind the tyre.
The manufacturer said: "This tire generates electricity through the action of materials in the tire that capture and transform the energy created by heat when it flexes as it rolls during normal driving conditions."
The tyre also features ultra-black textured patches which are able to absorb light as well as heat. These patches can capture sunlight when the car is parked, which can be stored in the battery for later use.
The BH09 prototype was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, alongside another concept tyre that features three tubes under the tread. A special pump in the tyre modifies tyre inflation in response to road conditions.
However, with so much new technology going into regular, electric, hybrid and driverless car technologies, there will surely be an ever greater need for skilled recovery agents in the coming years.
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