Continental Supports MAN eTGM in Everyday Urban Delivery Role

• Conti Hybrid tire plays its part in the electrification of urban deliveries
• Real-world use shows that tires with an enhanced tread compound, robust construction and high mileage make a good fit for electric trucks
• Field testing in the CNL project with MAN provides data for the development of tires for electric vehicles in regional delivery roles

In late 2018, the Stiegl brewery in Austria added an electric truck from MAN to its fleet. Since then, its Conti Hybrid HS3 and HD3 tires have covered more than 23,000 kilometers. The truck is on the road eight hours every day in downtown Salzburg and within an approximately 50-kilometer radius of the city. “The Continental tires perform exceptionally well in all driving situations,” reports Stiegl driver Dominik Lackner. “It’s great to be able to rely on so much grip when pulling away. I can get away from traffic lights as quickly as the car next to me, which is a whole new feeling.” This is one of the important pieces of feedback gathered regularly by Kurt Bergmüller, head of sales at Continental Reifen Austria GmbH. “We monitor the condition of the tires and note what drivers and fleet managers have to say about them. I’m pleased to say that our tires have the performance and potential required for use on electric vehicles. That means they are playing a major role in lowering noise levels and pollutant emissions, as well as helping to keep fossil fuels in the ground.”

The Stiegl brewery is one of eight Austrian companies in the trade, logistics and production sectors with which MAN launched intensive field trials of all-electric trucks in regular logistics operations in 2018. The firms are part of the CNL consortium, a currently unique Europe-wide initiative of 18 Austrian companies working together under the aegis of the University of Vienna on what will be a key issue in years to come: sustainable logistics.

The development of tires for electric urban and regional delivery trucks represents a technological challenge. “This new drive system has prompted us to come up with new development concepts,” says Hinnerk Kaiser, head of tire development at Continental. “Developing tires for electric vehicles is particularly demanding in technical terms because they have to withstand higher torque, generate as little rolling noise as possible, and be able to carry what are still quite heavy batteries. And they have to do so while delivering the same mileage and ensuring the same level of safety.” Delivery trucks frequently have to negotiate stop-start traffic and drive over curbs, added to which, as Kaiser adds: “Tires on electric trucks are subjected to higher torque when pulling away and accelerating.” Then there is deceleration to consider: When the vehicle brakes, its electric motor generates power for charging the battery. This recuperation process further increases the workload for the drive axle tires. And finally, there is the special focus on rolling noise in downtown areas: “This is where vehicles need to be particularly quiet to make sure the comfort-enhancing benefits of the electric motor aren’t negated by tire noise,” says Kaiser.

New drive systems and vehicle concepts are changing the demands placed on tires and driving the need for new development concepts. For many years, Continental has been gathering valuable real-world experience through development partnerships. “Resolving conflicting goals – especially mileage versus braking and handling performance – is technically demanding,” explains Hinnerk Kaiser. “This presents us with new challenges, but we’re definitely not going to be making any compromises when it comes to robustness and braking performance.” Given the strong demand from municipalities and mass transit operators for emission-free electric vehicle fleets and the rapid development of the electric mobility segment, there is also a growing need for the right tires.