[단독] Hyundai Electric Vehicle Ioniq 5 Michelin Tire

Hyundai Motor Company’s first dedicated electric car Ioniq 5 is equipped with Michelin tires.

According to the industry on the 28th, Hyundai Motor Company alone selected Michelin as the tire supplier for the first exclusive electric vehicle Ioniq 5. Accordingly, 19-inch Michelin tires and alloy wheels are installed on the Ioniq 5 Exclusive, and 20-inch Michelin tires and wheels are installed on the Prestige.

Michelin, France, one of the world’s top three tire manufacturers, signed a technical cooperation contract with Hyundai Motor Company in 2017 to develop tires for electric vehicles. At the time, the two companies agreed to use Michelin’s next-generation tire materials and structural technology by collaborating from the early stages of vehicle development.

There are still many consumers who think that they can use the same tires as before, as the appearance and movement of electric vehicles are not significantly different from those of internal combustion engine vehicles, but electric vehicles that are significantly different from ordinary vehicles in various aspects require products with different characteristics in terms of tires. do. There is a perception that electric cars will be lighter than conventional cars because the internal combustion engine reminiscent of a heavy metal block is excluded, but this is not true. Electric vehicles are equipped with heavy batteries and are hundreds of kilograms heavier than internal combustion vehicles classified in the same class in terms of output. The tire load-sharing ratio increases due to the heavier body, so electric vehicle tires must have solid durability.

The fast response and high torque characteristic of an electric vehicle add to the burden on the tire. In the case of an internal combustion engine car, when you step on the accelerator, it gradually reaches the maximum torque and generates acceleration. On the other hand, electric vehicles reach their maximum torque from the moment they step on the accelerator and accelerate rapidly, which is likely to cause tire slip or wear. Accordingly, in order to transmit the high power and strong initial acceleration of the electric motor to the road without loss, it is manufactured to suppress the tire slip phenomenon and minimize the degree of tread wear in direct contact with the ground.

The three domestic tire companies (Korea, Kumho, and Nexen Tire) are equipped with technology, but failed to install the Ionic 5. These companies also succeeded in developing tires for electric vehicles several years ago and are supplying products to Porsche, Tesla, and electric vehicle start-up canoes in the United States. However, it is observed that it will be difficult to supply to the electric cars of Kia `CW` and Genesis `JW` (above project name), which will be released this year, as they drink high praise from the order of the Ioniq 5 tires.

[서동철 기자 / 박윤구 기자]
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