Bridgestone: EV tyres will make up 20% of our EMIA OE range by 2024

Electric Vehicle (EV) tyres currently represent 11 per cent of Bridgestone EMIA’s total passenger car OE tyre line-up – almost three-times what it was in 2019. Now the company says that figure will reach 20 per cent by 2024. According to the company, Bridgestone is developing a growing number of original tyre fitments specifically engineered for EVs. EV tyres may currently represent 11 per cent of Bridgestone EMIA’s total original equipment (OE) line-up for passenger cars (up from just 4 per cent in 2019), but the company says this figure will be over 20 per cent in 2024.

In order to achieve that goal, Bridgestone EMIA currently commits over 30 per cent of its tyre development resources to the creation of OE fitments for EVs. Indeed, Bridgestone sees electric mobility as “a huge opportunity to reduce CO2 emissions and make mobility more environmentally sustainable”, particularly with 20 per cent of new car sales in Europe in 2025 expected to be EVs.

Bridgestone’s EV fitments incorporate sustainable technologies that meet specific EV requirements, such as ologic technology to enhance battery range, TECHSYN to achieve better wear efficiency and reduced rolling resistance while cutting raw material consumption in the long term, B-Silent to minimise tyre noise for driver comfort, and the sustainable and lightweight ENLITEN Technology to reduce tyre rolling resistance by up to 30 per cent, and weight by up to 20 per cent to extend EV driving range and reduce environmental impact. In 2021, 6 per cent of Bridgestone EMIA OE fitments already applied ENLITEN Technology. That number is expected to reach almost 10 per cent in 2022.

Bridgestone introducing EV tyre marking this year

In addition, Bridgestone EMIA is introducing an EV marking on Bridgestone OE tyres tailor-made for electric vehicles. The goal is to indicate that the tyres have undergone a rigorous testing process, received approval from car manufacturers and support the unique features and demands of EVs and their manufacturers – providing reassurance on range, control and tyre life.

Bridgestone has already found significant supplier for its EV tyres from OEMs. As of 2021, 50 per cent of the top 10 EV manufacturers globally chose Bridgestone fitments for their vehicles (Top 10: Tesla, Volkswagen, Wuling, Nissan, BYD, Renault, Hyundai, Audi, Peugeot and Mercedes). And half of the top 10 most sold EVs in Europe are fitted with bespoke Bridgestone tyres. The top 10 models being VW ID.3, VW ID.4, Tesla Model 3, Renault ZOE, Peugeot e-208, Mercedes EQB, Fiat 500, Nissan LEAF, Mercedes EQC and Peugeot e-2008. Bridgestone supplies VW ID.3, VW ID.4, Mercedes EQB, Fiat 500 and Nissan LEAF. Bridgestone supplies the VW ID.3, VW ID.4, Mercedes EQB, Fiat 500 and Nissan LEAF.

The company is also working with EV newcomers. Specifically, Bridgestone is the exclusive tyre partner for both Lightyear, on the world’s first long-range solar electric powered car the Lightyear One – a project that saw the combination of ologic and ENLITEN Technology for the first time – and Fisker on the upcoming all-electric Fisker Ocean. In addition, the Audi Q4 e-tron and the Seat Cupra Born are two of the latest EVs to benefit from custom Bridgestone tyres.

Commenting on Bridgestone’s work in electric mobility, Emilio Tiberio, COO and CTO of Bridgestone EMIA said: “As part of our commitment to help shape a sustainable future of mobility, Bridgestone EMIA is transforming to support the adoption of EVs. Through a fully integrated approach, we’re investing to make electric mobility more efficient and accessible to drivers and fleets. This is seeing us pioneer premium tyres and tyre technologies for EVs, dedicated fleet and mobility solutions, as well as partner with leading EV manufacturers and developing an EV-ready retail and service network. Building on the progress we’ve already made, we’re determined to help our partners accelerate their journeys into electrification and achieve the sustainability ambitions we collectively hold.”