Tire pressure's impact on EV driving range

A new study shows that tighter control of tire-pressure loss can lead to marked improvement in electric-vehicle efficiency.

Electric-vehicle development teams have made great advances in improving vehicle range, mitigating “range anxiety” for the end customer. While much focus has been on advances in battery technology, controls and vehicle aerodynamics, EV driving range also is significantly affected by tires.

Energy-inefficient tire construction, sub-optimal inflation and other factors can adversely impact EV range. Tires lose a certain amount of air on a continuous basis. An underinflated tire is less stiff and its deformation is much higher, leading to a larger amount of heat dissipation and ultimately higher rolling resistance and poor range efficiency.