Fleet Maintenance - 32
SPOTLIGHT ON UNDER VEHICLE
Contending
with accelerated
BEV tire wear
The instant torque
and higher weight
of electric vehicle
powertrains
can take a toll
on commercial
vehicle tires, but
proper spec'ing
and maintenance
can help ease
the burden.
By David Brierley
32 Fleet Maintenance | October 2020
A
s heavy duty truck manufacturers begin to test
and produce full battery electric vehicles (BEVs),
the technology comes one step closer to being
commonplace in fleets around the world. From
a maintenance perspective, BEV drivetrains are
simpler with fewer moving parts, so on paper,
these vehicles should require less maintenance
than traditional internal combustion engine (ICE)
vehicles. There are, however, factors fleets may
not have considered. One such factor is tires and
how they will withstand the increased weight and
torque demands placed upon them by BEVs.
BEV powertrains vs. tires
BEVs are known for their instantaneous power.
Unlike traditional vehicles, there is no diesel
engine to build revs and no turbos to spool up to
create torque. With a BEV, the torque is present as
soon as the driver touches the accelerator.
»In addition to low rolling resistance, tire
manufacturers are taking load carrying
capacities into consideration for EV tires.
Photo courtesy of Continental
Additionally, BEVs have heavy battery packs
which can weigh more than a full tank of fuel for
an ICE, says Marco Rabe, head of research and
development for truck tires in the Americas region
at Continental.
That type of performance, combined with
the additional weight from battery packs, is not
conducive to prolonged drive tire wear. The high,
instant torque of a BEV can cause excessive rubber
loss in the drive tires mainly due to slippage.
"The presence of higher torque levels and the
immediacy of the application of torque in EV
drivetrains does present challenges for tires," says
Mitch Kritzell, director of commercial tire development, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations
(BATO), U.S. and Canada. "Specifically, the tires are
presented with the unique challenge of maintaining the road contact necessary to deliver start-up
traction in all conditions while managing the slip
and wear that occurs under acceleration."
The high torque of a BEV can also cause lug
cracking in the drive tires due to the increased
forces placed upon them, says Al Cohn, director of
new market development and engineering support
at Pressure Systems International (P.S.I.), a manufacturer of automatic tire inflation systems (ATIS)
and tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) for
commercial trucks and trailers.
"With the higher torque, not only can you get
fast wear rates, but the tires are more prone to
Fleet Maintenance
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Fleet Maintenance
Uptime: How Fleets Can Connect with Tech Schools
Editor's Note: The Aftertreatment Blues
Keys to Maximizing Trailer ROI
Best Practices for Maintaining Hydraulic Braking Systems
Solving the Parts Puzzle
Contending with Accelerated BEV Tire Wear
Cold Weather HVAC Considerations
Management: CMMS Marketplace
Economic Outlook: Signs of Economic Recovery
Diagnostics: Choosing the Right Diagnostic Tool for Roadside Triage
Fleet Parts & Components
Tools & Equipment
Classifieds
Guest Editorial: The Propane-Powered Alternative
Fleet Maintenance - 1
Fleet Maintenance - 2
Fleet Maintenance - 3
Fleet Maintenance - 4
Fleet Maintenance - 5
Fleet Maintenance - 6
Fleet Maintenance - 7
Fleet Maintenance - Uptime: How Fleets Can Connect with Tech Schools
Fleet Maintenance - 9
Fleet Maintenance - Editor's Note: The Aftertreatment Blues
Fleet Maintenance - 11
Fleet Maintenance - Keys to Maximizing Trailer ROI
Fleet Maintenance - 13
Fleet Maintenance - 14
Fleet Maintenance - 15
Fleet Maintenance - 16
Fleet Maintenance - 17
Fleet Maintenance - 18
Fleet Maintenance - 19
Fleet Maintenance - Best Practices for Maintaining Hydraulic Braking Systems
Fleet Maintenance - 21
Fleet Maintenance - 22
Fleet Maintenance - 23
Fleet Maintenance - 24
Fleet Maintenance - 25
Fleet Maintenance - Solving the Parts Puzzle
Fleet Maintenance - 27
Fleet Maintenance - 28
Fleet Maintenance - 29
Fleet Maintenance - 30
Fleet Maintenance - 31
Fleet Maintenance - Contending with Accelerated BEV Tire Wear
Fleet Maintenance - 33
Fleet Maintenance - Cold Weather HVAC Considerations
Fleet Maintenance - 35
Fleet Maintenance - Management: CMMS Marketplace
Fleet Maintenance - 37
Fleet Maintenance - 38
Fleet Maintenance - 39
Fleet Maintenance - Economic Outlook: Signs of Economic Recovery
Fleet Maintenance - 41
Fleet Maintenance - Diagnostics: Choosing the Right Diagnostic Tool for Roadside Triage
Fleet Maintenance - 43
Fleet Maintenance - 44
Fleet Maintenance - 45
Fleet Maintenance - Fleet Parts & Components
Fleet Maintenance - 47
Fleet Maintenance - 48
Fleet Maintenance - 49
Fleet Maintenance - 50
Fleet Maintenance - Tools & Equipment
Fleet Maintenance - Classifieds
Fleet Maintenance - 53
Fleet Maintenance - Guest Editorial: The Propane-Powered Alternative
Fleet Maintenance - 55
Fleet Maintenance - 56
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