HORIBA MIRA to develop smart tyre system

ETI-funded project could reduce emissions and increase the fuel efficiency of heavy duty land vehicles

The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) has appointed HORIBA MIRA to develop a new smart tyre pressure optimisation system that could reduce emissions and increase the fuel efficiency of heavy duty land vehicles.

The Rolling Resistance Optimisation System project aims to develop and demonstrate a commercially viable automated system that will realise potential fuel savings of up to 8% across the UK HDV land fleet by 2020.

The system will be low cost to install and operate, will feature automatic control to eliminate driver intervention and save the owners and operators of heavy duty vehicles significant costs, as well as reducing carbon emissions.

In the first stage of the project, Nuneaton-based HORIBA MIRA will identify and evaluate potential technological solutions suitable for a wide range of heavy duty vehicles, including HGVs, construction and agricultural vehicles.

A follow-on project could see the ETI invest an additional £750,000 to further develop and demonstrate the most promising technologies.

It is hoped that a set of tyres will be produced for a demonstration Caterpillar 725 articulated truck that is being built as part of the ETI’s Heavy Duty Vehicle Efficiency programme. The project will encompass all heavy duty land vehicles that use pneumatic tyres.

Deborah Stubbs, ETI project manager said: “Operating tyres at the correct pressure is critical to both the safe and efficient operation of a vehicle but the correct pressure can be different depending on the ground contact conditions and the type of road surface.

“The aim of this project is to design, develop and demonstrate an innovative system that can optimise the tyre operating pressure for any given condition which will help to increase fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions by around 8% and can be suitable for existing vehicles,” she added.