Bridgestone Enliten technology gets premiere on Volkswagen ID.3

The car giant’s ‘biggest car launch since the Golf’ also represents a significant milestone for Bridgestone’s sustainable technology

Bridgestone Turanza Eco (photo: Bridgestone)

Volkswagen has called the launch of its ID.3 electric car the most significant since the Golf. But the launch is also a milestone for one of its tyre partners. Following the news that Bridgestone would supply its Enliten-enhanced Turanza Eco tyres to the ID.3, the world’s largest tyre manufacturer has outlined the benefits of its low rolling resistance, reduced materials technology, available on the road for the first time on the ID.3. Bridgestone says Enliten Technology “sets a new lowered standard in material use and rolling resistance to deliver significant environmental benefits,” making it ideally suited to a car launch characterised as a milestone in sustainability.

Created to bring the benefits of e-mobility to more everyday drivers, the ID.3 is Volkswagen’s first all-electric vehicle launched to the market. During the ID.3’s development, Volkswagen sought tyres offering high performance in both the wet and dry, good braking, long tyre life, and, most importantly, super low rolling resistance. Tyres’ rolling resistance can have a big impact on fuel use and, in this case, the ID.3’s battery power operating range.

Enliten Technology tyres demonstrate a rolling resistance that is up to 30 per cent lower than a standard premium summer tyre, according to Bridgestone’s internal test data versus its own standard summer tyres in size 225/40R18 XL 92Y. In a combustion engine vehicle this contributes to a reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. In an electric vehicle, it extends battery life and therefore range – an all-important consideration in the first wave of electric vehicles to hit the market.

Bridgestone adds that Enliten Technology promotes further fuel or battery conservation by reducing tyres’ weight by up to 20 per cent against equivalent standard premium summer tyres. This equates to up to 2kg fewer raw material resources required to produce every tyre, another environmental benefit from both a resources and final end-of-life stage management standpoint.

Enliten Technology also offers performance benefits. The synergy between the unique materials used to create Enliten Technology and a new mixing process has enhanced the technology’s compound wear performance, without compromising on grip. This, combined with a cavity and full 3D pattern design that maximises wet and wear performance, means that Enliten Technology improves the vehicle’s handling to help increase driving pleasure and, in the case of the ID.3, meet all of Volkswagen’s performance targets.

Long history of collaboration

Bridgestone is a long-time partner of Volkswagen. Bridgestone tyres helped VW break the electric-powered vehicle lap record on the Nürburgring’s track last year. The tyre maker says this helped it to address the car manufacturer’s performance targets. Bridgestone applied its ‘Virtual Tyre Development’ technology in the early stages of development to digitally identify the ID.3’s optimum tyre dimensions. As well as quickening the tyre development phase, Virtual Tyre Development also brings significant environmental benefits by ensuring that the tyres do not need to be produced physically and driven during development and testing.

The Turanza Eco tyres with Enliten Technology are available on Volkswagen’s ID.3 in 18, 19, and 20-inch variants. The 19 and 20-inch tyres are equipped with Bridgestone’s B-Seal technology, which ensures temporary air retention in case of a puncture in the tread area, allowing the vehicle to keep going.

Karsten Schebsdat, head of chassis development at Volkswagen, said: “The ID.3 is our biggest launch since the Golf. We knew that the tyres had to be perfect if drivers were going to realise all of the vehicle’s performance and environmental benefits. So we selected Bridgestone and its Enliten Technology for the ID.3. The significant reduction of rolling resistance allowed by Enliten Technology has a huge impact on the ID.3’s battery conservation, which is very important, especially with there being many questions around electric vehicle range today. Enliten Technology can go a long way in helping to change perceptions on the viability of e-mobility. It’s a ground-breaking technology for sure.”

Mark Tejedor, VP original equipment at Bridgestone EMIA, also commented: “The recent projects in the all-electric ID family have proved what e-mobility is capable of; in the ID.3 we truly have an electric vehicle that’s designed for everyone. We are very proud at Bridgestone to have helped bring the performance and environmental benefits of Enliten Technology to the roads for the first time on Volkswagen’s new all-electric ID.3 vehicle. As a business, we’re committed to providing customisable solutions to original equipment manufacturers, who are our key partners in contributing to the future of mobility, and working with them to create new value for society. The work that we’re doing alongside Volkswagen in this space is exactly that.”