Alternative fuels and electric or hybrid cars are a good start, but some manufacturers are getting even more creative with their sustainable ideas. Last year, Michelin introduced a biodegradable smart tire, and now Goodyear is stepping in with its own fascinating concept of a tire that’s not just sustainably made, but can actually reduce the pollution that a car puts out.
The tire, called Oxygene, has living moss growing within its sidewall. It features an open structure that allows air to circulate, as well as a smart tread design that lets the tire absorb and circulate moisture from the road, enabling photosynthesis to occur and oxygen to be released. In a city similar in size to metropolitan Paris, with about 2.5 million vehicles, this would mean generating nearly 3,000 tons of oxygen and absorbing more than 4,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year.“With more than two-thirds of the world population expected to live in cities by 2050, the demands on transport networks in urban environments will increase substantially,” said Chris Delaney, President of Goodyear Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Smarter, greener infrastructure and transport will be crucial in addressing the most pressing challenges of urban mobility and development.”
Oxygene is made from recycled tires, which are ground into powder and 3D printed into the new tires. It features a lightweight, shock-absorbing structure designed to prevent punctures and extend the life of the tire. The open structure, in addition to allowing the moss to grow, also adds to the safety of the tire, improving wet grip by absorbing water from the tread.
“Like the concept designs Goodyear has presented at Geneva in the past, Oxygene is meant to challenge our thinking and help drive the debate around smart, safe and sustainable future mobility,” Delaney said. “By contributing in this way to cleaner air generation, the tire could help enhance quality of life and health for city-dwellers.”
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[Source: Goodyear]