Michelin has showcased a prototype of a new airless tyre that will allow e-cargo trikes to safely carry more load while maximising fleet uptime.
Debuted at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the ‘Tweel’ tyre is a single unit that replaces the current tyre and wheel assembly. There is no need for complex mounting equipment, and once they are bolted on, there is no air pressure to maintain.
They are designed to perform like pneumatic tyres while bringing enhanced advantages for last-mile delivery fleets, including reduced downtime by eliminating flat tyres, along with improved tyre wear and extended range due to lower rolling resistance.
The tyres are also said to bring improved safety/stability, enabling faster last-mile deliveries and the potential to increase carrying capacity over pneumatic tyres.
And Michelin claims the unique energy transfer within the poly-resin spokes helps reduce the ‘bounce’ associated with pneumatic tyres, while providing outstanding handling characteristics.
It’s part of the company’s work to provide solutions for urban mobility and last-mile delivery challenges.
“Michelin is committed to innovation to solve tomorrow’s challenges in this complex and demanding market,” said Tony Marconi, Tweel business director. “We aspire to be the leader of sustainable solutions for urban fleets and know the most costly step of logistics is often the last-mile delivery.
“Our innovative Tweel has solved challenges in other segments where flat tyres are an issue. We are looking to get ahead of these obstacles in the urban mobility area and aim to deliver the best solution possible for customers to maximise uptime and minimise issues.”
