Continental has showcased a new concept tyre designed for electrified buses.

The Conti Urban, presented as a prototype this week in Hanover, is manufactured from 50% renewable and recycled materials according to the manufacturer. Special attention has been paid to energy efficiency and noise reduction. Rolling resistance has been reduced by 7% over the existing Conti Urban, and tyre life has been extended.

The tread, which it is claimed contains 68 percent renewable materials, is manufactured using “rapeseed oil, silica obtained from the ash of rice husks and responsibly sourced natural rubber originating from a joint development project by Continental and the German development aid agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit,” a spokesperson says. The materials used could be deployed in series production in the near future.

Emphasis has also been placed on the supply chain: “Local involvement in the cultivation of rubber and close collaboration with strong partners creates transparency and ensures a high level of traceability along the entire value chain for natural rubber. All natural rubber used in the tread originates from this project. In addition to recovered carbon black and recycled steel, Continental has also used reclaimed material to build the tyre. This recycled rubber originates primarily from Continental’s innovative retreading and recycling plant for truck tyres in Hanover, Germany.”

By continuing the use of the casing through retreading, Continental says those benefits of using recycled materials increase. Says Klaus Kreipe, head of Continental Tyres’ original equipment business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (pictured): “Our Conti Urban increases its sustainability even more when its service life is extended. Once the tyre is retreaded, so when the casing receives a brand-new tread, the share of renewable and recycled materials rises to more than 90%.

“By 2050, we want to use 100% sustainably produced materials in all our tyre products and achieve full climate-neutrality along our entire value chain.”

Continental also demonstrated its digital tyre management system ContiConnect 2.0. The system allows fleet managers to monitor tyre condition to save fuel and reduce emissions by preventing premature tyre changes and unscheduled downtime.