BKT tyres suitable for fitting to an electric vehicle are now identifiable with the e-ready logo. The first tyre to carry it is the new Agrimaxfactor 70 tractor series, although it will be extended to other products in the future. It is not just a case of stamping the new label onto a tyre. The Indian tyre manufacturer says that trials and field tests have shown that electrically powered vehicles have significantly more tyre wear than their diesel counterparts. For example, batteries can increase the weight of an electric vehicle by up to 30%, and electric vehicles are faster to accelerate so the rubber needs the ability to withstand the higher torque. Noise levels also need addressing, and inadequate tyres can cause significant energy losses, since rolling resistance can contribute as much as 20% of the vehicle's energy consumption.
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