PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Road transport generates more than 20% of all CO2 emissions in the EU, with passenger cars responsible for more than half of these emissions. The car industry has made progress in fulfilling its obligations under the voluntary agreement to market cars that emit less CO2 and, in doing so, has delivered a sizeable contribution to the EU’s strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Mandatory tyre pressure monitoring fitments on cars are important, as tyre pressure can influence tyre rolling resistance (RR) and consequently fuel consumption. Tyre RR loss contributes to around 20% of car fuel consumption and thus a 10% increase in RR translates to a 2% increase in fuel consumption. As of 2012, performance regulation for tyres will set the minimum standards in RR and noise, which are the key impacting factors according to tyre life cycle analysis (LCA).
OBJECTIVES
The objective of the ECO2 Tyre Tech project was to develop environmentally sustainable tyre concepts based on novel green material solutions and weight reducing tyre construction concepts. Ecological and economic benefits were to be validated through the latest software versions of carbon footprint and life cycle impact calculation. The target was to enhance the environmental tyre performance by improving all life cycle stages of the activities involved during the manufacturing, use and recycling of the tyre. In relation to tyre manufacturing, the project aimed to introduce into the process recycled materials (derived from used rubber articles), novel renewable source materials (lignin), and new chemicals for tyre vulcanisation and tyre ageing protection with no or reduced aqua-toxicity. The project aimed to improve tyre performance by reducing rolling resistance (RR), resulting in less energy consumption, and to improve tyre wear performance, thereby reducing the amount of worn tyre particulate matter generated per kilometre.
RESULTS
The ECO2 Tyre Tech project was designed to build upon the knowledge and experience gained in tyre manufacturing during the Bio Tyre (LIFE06 ENV/L/000118) project, which was also coordinated by Goodyear at its European R&D Centre in Luxembourg. The ECO2 Tyre Tech project was a collaboration with associate beneficiary the BMW Group, the sustainable car manufacturer. The project developed and tested new tyre recipes, incorporating recycled rubber or lignin, but faced severe technical drawbacks that stopped the developments before completion.
The project beneficiaries developed a new tyre having about 5-7% of recycled rubber, but this was estimated as insufficient for commercial viability. The project team also achieved reductions in the generation of worn tyre particulate matter and aqua-toxic materials through improved tyre wear performance. This was mainly due to the increased mileage observed in the new tyre construction concepts.
The project developed several tyre construction concepts, but failed to develop a tyre design concept. During the testing phase of the different tyre construction concepts, significant reductions in tyre weight and rolling resistance (RR) were observed, while the tyre mileage significantly increased. However, the targeted noise reduction was not achieved.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).
The ECO2 Tyre Tech project was designed to build upon the knowledge and experience gained in tyre manufacturing during the Bio Tyre (LIFE06 ENV/L/000118) project, which was also coordinated by Goodyear at its European R&D Centre in Luxembourg. The ECO2 Tyre Tech project was a collaboration with associate beneficiary the BMW Group, the sustainable car manufacturer. The project developed and tested new tyre recipes, incorporating recycled rubber or lignin, but faced severe technical drawbacks that stopped the developments before completion.The project beneficiaries developed a new tyre having about 5-7% of recycled rubber, but this was estimated as insufficient for commercial viability. The project team also achieved reductions in the generation of worn tyre particulate matter and aqua-toxic materials through improved tyre wear performance. This was mainly due to the increased mileage observed in the new tyre construction concepts.
The project developed several tyre construction concepts, but failed to develop a tyre design concept. During the testing phase of the different tyre construction concepts, significant reductions in tyre weight and rolling resistance (RR) were observed, while the tyre mileage significantly increased. However, the targeted noise reduction was not achieved.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).
