China: NEV boom drives Chinese tire makers' expansion.

Storyline NEV boom drives Chinese tire makers' expansion China's rapid development of new energy vehicles has accelerated the country's tire industry in adapting to new demands. NEVs are heavier that traditional vehicles because of their batteries. They also have higher torque from zero RPMs, which puts higher demands on their load capacity, low rolling resistance, and quietness. Tang Lamei, chief engineer of data integration architecture, Geely Holding Group: "NEV tires generally have a load capacity requirement that is nearly 5% -10% higher than traditional tires. Noise reduction is also required by 5 to 8 decibels. NEVs generally have low rolling resistance. The requirements for high torque and grip are about 10% higher than those of gasoline vehicles." The research and development departments of many NEV companies in China have been working to solve some of these bottlenecks with new materials and processes. Jia Weijie, engineer, tire company: "Liquid-phase mixing technology utilizes silica and synthetic rubber to reduce tire rolling resistance, ensure filler dispersion, improve braking distance, and simultaneously increase wear mileage." Data from professional institutions shows that the market share of domestically produced NEV tires has exceeded 55 percent for three consecutive years. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]