Bridgestone recharging batteries after enlightening EV Rally
Bridgestone is recharging its batteries after an enlightening insight into electric vehicle mobility and infrastructure, after successfully covering 1,200 miles across the UK and Ireland at the EV Rally.
Encompassing all five capital cities, across both the UK & Ireland with 25 stop-off points between July 3rd and July 7th, Bridgestone was able to navigate the route seamlessly with more than 50 other vehicles, in a first-hand appreciation of improving EV infrastructure.
Both the new Bridgestone Turanza 6 and Duravis Van tyres were ready-made products for this spotlight on electric vehicles, with both being ‘EV Ready’ tyres, making them the perfect choice for the rally.
Bridgestone Mobility Solutions telematics business Webfleet and event data partner had on-board devices in the 23 vehicles tracked during the rally, they revealed that 4.87 tonnes of carbon were estimated to have been avoided, 6,797kWh was utilised and 27,495 miles were covered with zero emissions. These figures were taken from a mixture of electric cars and vans.
The Volkswagen ID.4 took the team from Bridgestone from stop-to-stop, equipped with newly developed modular electric drive matrix (MEB) and a fast-charging battery system consisting of different numbers of modules, depending on the desired range.
Bridgestone embarked on the EV Rally following the results of a survey, they commissioned earlier this year, in the UK with 2,000 drivers, which revealed that 40%1 would buy an EV by 2028, up 11% from when asked in 20222 (29%).
However, 67% raised fears about the availability of charging stations1, (up 1% on 20222) with exactly half of all respondents1 continuing to have range anxiety, which represented an increase of 21% from last year2.
Through its EV Rally experience, Bridgestone believes that these concerns are already being addressed in UK and Ireland and will ease rapidly further in future, owing to improving infrastructure and the focus of a range of businesses in this area, many who had participating teams in the EV Rally.
Bridgestone’s North Region Vice President Andrea Manenti said: “The journey across the UK & Ireland, wasn’t without its challenges, but they were overcome through a highly efficient VWID4 car, Webfleet’s onboard telematics and our ‘EV ready’ Turanza 6 tyres, which allowed us to extract more mileage from each charge.
“The Bridgestone Turanza 6 was perfectly suited to the journey, featuring low rolling resistance to save battery life and address range anxiety concerns, excellent control and higher wear tolerance. Meanwhile, Webfleet's on-board devices offered insights to determine who on the EV Rally was driving at an optimal levels to maximise the EV performance.
“Bridgestone was proud to partner with the EV Rally, as the company makes a long-term pledge to the environment and sustainability to earn the trust of future generations”.
As a leader in mobility solutions, Bridgestone is already tackling some of the issues raised by developing its tyre technology to ensure that EVs can travel further between charges, whilst prolonging battery life.
The Bridgestone Turanza 6 is the first ever Bridgestone replacement tyre featuring innovative and sustainable ENLITEN Technology and TECHSYN. Together they enable the Turanza 6 tyre to provide best-in-class wet performance[1] and sustainability improvements thanks to improved mileage[2] and reduced rolling resistance[2], which contribute to a safe and sustainable driving experience. The Bridgestone Turanza 6 tyre is Bridgestone’s first-ever ‘EV Ready’ replacement tyre, making it perfectly suited to hybrid and electric vehicles, helping to optimise their performance.
Bridgestone’s sponsorship of the EV Rally also aligned with its Bridgestone E8 Commitment that serves as the axis to drive management while earning the trust of future generations.
The E8 Commitment consists of eight Bridgestone-like values starting with the letter ‘E’ (Energy, Ecology, Efficiency, Extension, Economy, Emotion, Ease, and Empowerment) that Bridgestone will commit to creating together with employees, society, partners and customers to realize a sustainable society.
The sponsorship aligns with: ‘Energy’: Committed to the realisation of a carbon neutral mobility society’, ‘Ecology’: Committed to advancing sustainable tyre technologies and solutions that preserve the environment for future generations” and ‘Efficiency’: Committed to maximizing productivity through the advancement of mobility”.
1Bridgestone commissioned research carried out online by Research Without Barriers (RWB) between 23rd February 2023 and 28h February 2023, comprising 2,000 UK car owners - Bridgestone plugged into motorists’ EV apprehensions but also reveals rapid growth in purchase consideration (bridgestone-emia.com)
2YouGov Survey commissioned by Bridgestone in the UK, January 2022, 2000 respondents.
3The AA EV breakdown statistics from June 2023 https://www.theaa.com/about-us/newsroom/evs-out-of-charge-breakdowns-fall
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For more information about this press release, or if you have any more questions, please call Ben Smallman at Ben Smallman PR on 07833 463195 or email ben@bensmallmanpr.com
About Bridgestone in Europe, Middle East, India and Africa
Bridgestone in Europe, Middle East, India, and Africa (Bridgestone EMIA) is the regional Strategic Business Unit of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in tyres and sustainable mobility solutions.
Headquartered in Zaventem (Belgium), Bridgestone EMIA employs more than 20,000 people and conducts business in 40 countries across the region.
Bridgestone offers a diverse portfolio of premium tyres, tyre technologies and advanced mobility solutions. The company’s vision is to provide social and customer value as a sustainable solutions company. The Bridgestone E8 Commitment is a broad, global corporate commitment that clearly defines the value the company is promising to deliver to society, our customers and future generations in eight focus areas; Energy, Ecology, Efficiency, Extension, Economy, Emotion, Ease and Empowerment. These provide a compass to guide strategic priorities, decision making and actions throughout every area of the business.
For more information about Bridgestone in EMIA, please visit www.bridgestone-emia.com and press.bridgestone-emia.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn.