Continental Cuts Rolling Resistance to Maximize Fleet Range

Continental’s ultra-low rolling resistance concept tire demonstrates that specialized rubber formulations can extend electric vehicle range without requiring larger battery packs.

Tire manufacturer Continental contributed to a world energy efficiency record set by Volkswagen’s Mission Efficiency concept car, certified by the Rekord-Institut für Deutschland. During a 1,278-kilometer real-world trip from Wolfsburg to Vienna with a single intermediate charge, the near-production vehicle recorded energy consumption of 7.51 kWh per 100 kilometers including charging losses (6.89 kWh/100 km net).

For Canadian commercial fleet operators, tire dealers, and mechanical service providers, selecting low-rolling-resistance rubber directly mitigates range loss over long-distance highway routes. According to the manufacturer, overcoming tire rolling resistance consumes roughly 20% of an electric vehicle’s stored battery power. Continental’s concept tire delivered a rolling resistance figure of 4.9 kg per metric ton, outperforming the EU label Class A threshold by approximately 25%.

Built on the production EcoContact 7 platform fitted to the ID. Polo, the tire incorporates a differentiated temperature vulcanization process that treats the tread compound and sidewall separately. Minimizing rolling friction enables fleet operators to reduce kilowatt-hour operating costs and lower total vehicle mass across commercial electric operations.