Mercedes eActros 600: The Technological Challenge of Tires

The advent of electric semi-truck tractors is not without imposing enormous weight and torque constraints on the tires.

Have you ever seen a drag race? The power of these machines is such that the tires are bolted onto the rims to prevent them from spinning off instantly. And this is exactly the same challenge Mercedes faced when developing its eActros 600 electric truck. Its power and torque are very high, and instantaneous, during the initial tests, the rim would rotate inside the tire!

With the collaboration of Michelin, Bridgestone, and Continental, global leaders in truck tires (but not only), this issue has finally been resolved. One can extend the thinking and state that the challenge is so great that not all tire manufacturers will be able to solve it.

4 tons of battery!

But beyond the instantaneous torque which poses internal structural problems, it is also essential not to lose adhesion during acceleration. A significant amount of work was then carried out on the rubber and sidewalls, with other parameters to consider, such as handling a massive weight.

Thus, the Mercedes eActros 600 carries 4 tons of batteries with a capacity of 621 kWh. Sufficient to ensure over 500 km of highway range! The tractor alone already weighs 11.7 tons, and its power can reach up to 600 kW, or 815 horsepower. Charging up to 1000 kWh is permitted, with stops of only 30 minutes to go from 20% to 80% charge.

The tires must be designed to withstand higher loads, particularly by maintaining a better wear distribution across the entire tread to prevent deformations and premature damages.

Energy efficiency and rolling resistance

One of the primary objectives for an electric vehicle is to maximize range. To achieve this, every component of the vehicle must be optimized to reduce energy consumption, and tires play a crucial role in this area. Michelin has therefore worked on reducing rolling resistance, which helps decrease the truck’s energy consumption. This involves modifications in tire structure, materials used, and tread design to minimize friction without compromising traction.

Given the weight and additional stresses of electric trucks, tires are likely to wear out faster than those on conventional trucks. Michelin has thus incorporated materials and architectures that increase tire lifespan while better resisting deformations caused by high loads and powerful accelerations. The durability of these tires is crucial so that owners of eActros 600 do not have to replace tires too often, which would be costly and unsustainable.

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