Can air extend an EV’s range?

The energy efficiency of electric vehicles (EVs) can be improved by 3 to 7% with proper tire inflation, according to a recent ExxonMobil study.

The first-of-its-kind study followed three identical EVs, each with different tire air-loss rates, as they each traveled 5,400 miles crisscrossing all sorts of environments in the United States, including city streets, small towns and rural roads, for six months.

The results showed that properly inflated tires enhanced EV energy efficiency by as much as 7% to extend vehicle battery range.

What if there were a way to increase an electric vehicle’s (EV’s) energy efficiency by 3 to 7 percent? A recent ExxonMobil study has revealed that proper tire inflation can do just that.

Back in 2018, the company embarked on a first-of-its-kind study that tracked EVs to understand the impact tire inflation pressure has on vehicle range. As the inventor of halobutyl rubber, the technological wonder that helps keep tires properly inflated, ExxonMobil wanted to take a hard look at the challenges EVs encounter.

The study followed three identical EVs, each with different air-loss rates. Each car traveled 5,400 miles, crisscrossing all sort of environments, including city streets and remote roads, for six months.

The results? In a nutshell, choose a tire that will stay better inflated over time. It will not only extend the life of the tire, but also the overall energy efficiency.

Learn more about our study in this video

Leave a Reply