PRESS RELEASE
Pirelli elect: over 500 homologations
for technology dedicated to electric and plug-in hybrid cars
• Provides up to 30 miles more range compared to traditional tires, with savings of up to 160 dollars per year
• Chosen as original equipment by 7 out of 10 Premium and Prestige car manufacturers
• Available for all Pirelli product families and seasons
New York 04/09/2024
<3 minutes
New York, September 4, 2024. Pirelli has obtained over 500 homologations for its Elect tires since their launch in 2019. These tires include a package of technologies that enhance the specificities of electric and plug-in hybrid cars. This milestone confirms the company's leadership in the EV segment with 7 out of 10 Premium and Prestige car manufacturers choosing Pirelli tires developed for BEVs and PHEVs1.
"Electric cars are very different from traditional internal combustion engine vehicles and require specific tires. The number of homologations obtained from major manufacturers confirms the validity of the path we have chosen to follow, which is to offer technology that can be adapted to the vehicle, to the tire, and to seasonality," said Piero Misani, Chief Technical Officer of Pirelli. "The most modern development tools, such as virtualization and artificial intelligence, allow us to design products that are increasingly in line with the technical and performance requirements of EVs."
There are several advantages for drivers who use Pirelli Elect tires, starting with battery range. Thanks to their low rolling resistance, these tires can provide up to 30 miles more range2, resulting in savings of up to 160 dollars per year on charging costs3. In addition, Pirelli Elect tires have increased grip, thanks to innovative compounds, to manage the high torque of electric motors, and reinforced structures to cope with the load of EVs. These two elements contribute to reducing tire wear by up to 20%4. Elect technology also offers superior acoustic comfort inside the car, up to 20%5, enhancing the quiet when you don’t have a combustion engine.
Pirelli’s P Zero tires, known for their superior grip, handling, and durability, played a crucial role in this historic win. Designed to meet the rigorous demands of high-performance vehicles, the P Zero tires ensured optimal traction and stability, allowing the F-150 Lightning SuperTruck to navigate the challenging twists and turns of Pikes Peak with ease.
Pirelli Elect technology, which debuted with the first-generation Porsche Taycan's P Zeros, is now integrated into an increasing number of Pirelli's main product families. The P Zero family, the one most chosen by Premium and Prestige car manufacturers for their sportier models, combines high performance with the comfort and efficiency needs of BEVs and PHEVs and comes in the greatest number of sizes with this technology (over 30%.) It is followed by the Scorpion range, dedicated to SUVs, and the Cinturato range, dedicated to sedans and CUVs. Pirelli Elect is also available in an increasing percentage of winter (22%) and all-season (17%) tires, bringing benefits in terms of noise reduction and rolling resistance even on heavily treaded tires that offer greater versatility and control at lower temperatures.
1. Premium & Prestige Car makers where Pirelli is supplying or has already achieved technical homologation.
2. Comparison between PIRELLI SCORPION™ ELECT™ and PIRELLI SCORPION™ tires, size 235/60/R18, measuring battery range gain derived from a reduction in rolling resistance in the ELECT™ version. Testing was conducted on a Volkswagen iD4 under instrumented conditions at a constant speed of 50 km/h over a range of 550 km. Source: Internal Pirelli R&D tests conducted between March and June 2022.
3. Calculation conducted on consumption indicators for VW ID4, considering the average fast/standard charging cost in 2023 in EU countries and an average annual distance travelled of 15,000 km/year. Cost savings may vary depending on driving habits and the specific vehicle.
4. Comparison between PIRELLI SCORPION™ ZERO ALL SEASON +3 ELECT™ and PIRELLI SCORPION™ ZERO ALL SEASON +3 tires on size 255/45R20. Source: Texas Test Fleet test carried out in January 2024 on a Toyota Tacoma; wear rate measured in mm/10,000 km.
5. Comparison between PIRELLI SCORPION™ ELECT™ and PIRELLI SCORPION™ tires on size 255/50R20. Source: Pirelli R&D internal tests carried out in November 2022 on an Audi e-Tron. In cabin noise has been measured at different speed - 40-60-80-110 Km/h - and on different types of surfaces (smooth / rough asphalt). In all eight combinations (speed/asphalt) ELECT™ tires resulted in less perceived internal noise, on average by around -0.6DB and up to -0.8DB.
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