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Old 12-22-2012, 10:31 AM   #1 (permalink)
NeilBlanchard
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Airless Tires - Lower Rolling Resistance & Lower Maintenance?

As I took a moment to take a second look at this picture of the MIT ' Hiriko' folding urban EV:



I did a double take on the wheels. They look to be earth-going versions of the Lunar Rover wheels? And they are similar to the ERW (Energy Return Wheel).

If their aerodynamic openness would need a solution, but they have two things that would be very good for a high efficiency car: lower rolling resistance than conventional wheels (the ERW claims 50% improvement) and they would not require inflation checks; which are more difficult when they are enclosed in low drag body work. And they can't blowout.

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