Role of Smart Tyres in Powering EVs and Autonomous Mobility

In an exclusive conversation with Thiruamuthan, Correspondent at Industry Outlook, Prashanth Doreswamy, President & CEO of Continental India, discusses how India’s mobility shift towards EVs and autonomous driving is driving advancements in smart tyre technology, focusing on sustainability, reduced rolling resistance, localized ADAS adaptation, TPMS integration, and OEM collaboration to improve efficiency, safety, and environmental impact.  

Prashanth Doreswamy is an accomplished automotive industry leader with over three decades of experience, excels in business growth, change management, and organizational transformation, with deep expertise in automotive electronics, smart mobility, operations leadership, P&L management, and establishing high-performance, multicultural global teams. 

With EVs demanding lower rolling resistance and autonomous systems relying on sensor feedback, how are smart tyres adapting to serve both demands in India’s mobility shift?  

The mobility is transforming rapidly and continues to transform. Cars today are more complex, incorporating cutting-edge IoT technology. ADAS and connectivity are instances of technologies that are influenced by consumer desires, while electric vehicle (EV) technology is influenced by government regulations. With these evolutionary aspects, EV technology is with no doubt revolutionary and evolutionary. However, it raises serious technical difficulties, forcing us to compete with manufacturers as a technology company. 

At present, tyres are becoming more and more intelligent. There are two key aspects to tyre technology advancements. The first is enhancing the environmental friendly tyres, which require a lot of energy and materials derived from fossil fuels, such as synthetic rubber and carbon black. They produce carbon dust when they are in use, and not every tyre is recycled at the end of their life cycle; rather they generally end up in landfills which is considered a primary challenge. The second is improving tyre sustainability while using automated, assisted, and autonomous technology to improve driving convenience. 

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Given India’s unique traffic and cultural scenarios, how are assisted and autonomous driving technologies being adapted for local conditions? 

The emphasis in India right now is on aided features like emergency braking help, lane departure warnings, and front collision warnings, which promote safety by stepping in when a driver's reaction is delayed. Automated driving is the next step, which includes Level 2+ and Level 3 systems that operate independently but require driver interaction when necessary. The third level is fully autonomous driving. With regard to this, completely autonomous cars function like robots and don't need steering or driver input. 

In the next stage, referred to as automatic driving, the car can drive itself but still needs a driver to take over whenever required. Systems at Levels 2+ and 3 are covered here. Fully autonomous driving goes beyond that, in which the vehicle functions entirely on its own without the need for a steering wheel or driver input.

In India, it is currently the driver's assisted functions and to some extent automated functions like L2 and L2 plus. The challenge there is these technologies are available in other parts of the world, but the use cases in India are very impressive. In simple terms, for example, a lady wearing a saree or a person wearing a dhoti may be seen as a pole because this is not the case in other countries. 

Hence, that's why teaching the systems to current use cases is what makes it even more challenging. From a safety and environmental standpoint, I believe there is a great chance for businesses like ours to make it much more sustainable. 

How significantly do smart tyre technologies influence EV battery performance, and are OEMs in India integrating tyre data into their range optimization strategies? 

At this point, lowering weight and friction greatly increases electric vehicles' efficiency. As a general rule, a one-kilogram reduction in a car’s weight can extend its range by 6 to 7 kilometers for a given battery capacity. Rolling resistance is another important component that involves two components. In the absence of an engine, cabin noise is more audible. The first is noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). For instance, we offer solution to this challenge by reducing noise levels so that customers won't have to spend more money on extra cabin insulation. 

Beyond its typical capacity, batteries operate efficiently due to the second characteristics of rolling resistance.  Tyre pressure levels are analyzed, for instance, by sensors such as the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Numerous studies show how crucial it is to maintain proper tyre pressure because readings that vary between neither too very high or low may result in a negative impact on safety and fuel efficiency. 

Consequently, our technologies continuously collect data and provide real-time feedback to the driver. These devices further offer early alerts for fleet operations to improve efficiency and safety. 

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As India begins piloting autonomous mobility zones, how are tyre manufacturers working to align smart tyre systems with ADAS and vehicle control algorithms?  

Nowadays, automobiles are starting to be equipped with the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), which alerts the driver in real time whenever the tyre pressure is low and shows an indication on the display. In spite of enhancing safety by keeping the ideal tyre pressure, TPMS additionally serves to reduce emissions by increasing fuel efficiency, which lowers fuel consumption throughout a specified range.  As an outcome, tyres provide financial and environmental advantages as CO2 emissions are decreased, and tyre life is increased. Beyond Stage VI, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) get credited for integrating TPMS into vehicles under CAFE2 (Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency) standards. Consequently, TPMS is currently being incorporated by numerous OEMs as a standard function in the majority of incoming passenger and commercial vehicle models. 

Looking ahead, how do you see smart tyres evolving as a standard feature in next-gen EVs and autonomous vehicles, particularly in the Indian regulatory and road context? 

In reference to sustainability, let me give you an example: we were the first to debut a tyre manufactured from dandelion weed, a completely sustainable raw material the fact that can be produced in an array of climates and lessens reliance on traditional rubber plantations. We are actively collaborating with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to scale this innovation for mass production, and it has already been successfully applied to bicycle tyres. In light of more ambitious sustainability goals, the global tyre industry is shifting toward a greater usage of recycled and bio-based materials. By 2030, we expect 40% of the tyre manufacturing process to be sustainable. Looking at technology, smart sensors that have proprietary algorithms built into the ECU deliver proactive and predictive data that improve driver safety.