Energy return wheel
 

Gentlemen, your thoughts?
Corporate Site - Britek Tire and Rubber

Michelin Tweel ?

ai_vin -

I think there is another thread on this ... searching ... here it is :

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...res-19321.html

CarloSW2

By the looks of it, this is about better recovering the energy loss in deforming the wheel. any air-less system will do that though, as they all need a flexing mechanism to absorb the deformation, then return the wheel to the original round shape.

I noticed that with the one exception, there is absolutely no test data comparing regular tires and wheels with this. If I would hazard a guess, the wheels they tested have very little deflection and therefore ride poorly, but give good fuel economy.

Here's another one from Bridgestone; Bridgestone's New Air-Free Tires are 100% Recyclable | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

Geez, airless wheels have been around for quite a while, and some still use them
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog....hummer_450.jpg
Unless you count the air between the spokes, then you can use these:
http://www.laneranch.net/images/Heavy%20Cart%202001.jpg

im sure the power generating wheels would possibly do a good job replacing a alternator?but id imagine it would turn tire changing into more of a hassle wether your just replacing the tread or not..

My question is, how much heavier are these wheel's/tires because if they are heavier that would explain the better coastdown but would hurt the fuel economy on a car doing a lot of stop and go driving.