November 02, 2019 |
Michelin: UPTIS unveiled to the public
After its presentation at the “Movin’On” summit in June, Uptis made its European debut at the Frankfurt trade show. With this revolutionary prototype, Michelin consolidated its vision for a sustainable future.
Michelin has been calling UPTIS a revolution in tyre design, because for the past 130 years, the company has been constantly innovating to improve all areas of tyre performance (longevity, noise, safety, fuel efficiency, etc.), but until UPTIS, none of the work had ever produced a satisfactory solution to punctures. UPTIS is currently the only solution on the market that is puncture-proof without sacrificing the tyre’s performance in other areas. With this tyre, drivers won’t need to keep a spare tyre or tyre repair kit in the trunk. Because UPTIS is puncture-proof and doesn’t experience any other pressure-related issues, fleets and professionals can use it to optimise their productivity. It also offers drivers peace of mind, and improves mobility, in areas where roads are in poor condition. This will mean that India and China, two major markets, are ideally suited for UPTIS to conquer. It is also an ideal solution for cars of the future, whether they are self-driving or electric.
UPTIS is the incarnation of “VISION”, the avant-garde concept, presented at the 2017 Movin’on summit, based on four pillars of innovation: it is airless, connected, has treads that can be restored via 3D printing, and is sustainable (using renewable, bio sourced materials). UPTIS has proved that Michelin’s ambitions for sustainable mobility were achievable. Today, an estimated 20% of tyres are scrapped prematurely due to a puncture or irregular wear caused by pressure loss. UPTIS has fixed that problem with its airless design.
The next major step for UPTIS, which is shared with Michelin’s partner General Motors, who they are co-developing this new airless technology with, is to make UPTIS accessible to the general public by 2024. To achieve this goal the company is accelerating its performance tests in real-world conditions.
Source: Michelin
