Bridgestone developing tyres for Hopium hydrogen car

Hopium, France’s first manufacturer of hydrogen-powered vehicles, is partnering with Bridgestone to develop tyres for its Hopium Machina saloon. Bridgestone will create the tyres using its proprietary Virtual Tyre Development technology, working to a remit of minimising rolling resistance in order to enhance the car’s 1,000-kilometre range.

“This exciting partnership with Hopium once again demonstrates our support for the next generation of innovative mobility pioneers,” comments Steven De Bock, vice-president Consumer Replacement and OE at Bridgestone EMIA. “We’re placing our recognised expertise at the service of a real game-changer in the field of zero-emission mobility and helping bring about a more sustainable future of mobility in the process.”

Hopium was founded by Olivier Lombard, the youngest winner of the 24 hours of Le Mans. Having driven hydrogen-powered racing cars for seven years, Lombard brings experience acquired on the racing circuits into the venture and is joined at Hopium by a team of experts and leading partners at the forefront of innovation in the fields of hydrogen fuel cells, technology, and automotive engineering.

“Since its start, Hopium has made it a point of honour to collaborate with the best in their fields,” says Olivier Lombard, chief executive officer. “Today, this strategic agreement with a renown industrial world leader constitutes a major milestone in our ambitious roadmap. With considerable expertise in designing tyres and tyre technologies for newer types of mobility, Bridgestone will surely bring valuable learnings to the partnership, helping us live up to the challenges ahead.”