YOKOHAMA develops “AERO-Y” EV Concept Car

This year's Autosport International show was once again a roaring success for YOKOHAMA

Tokyo – The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., today announced that it first presented the “AERO-Y” that is the company’s conceptual electric vehicle (EV) at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2013 with NAPAC being held in Japan from January 11, 2013. The “AERO-Y” has been designed for the research and development of YOKOHAMA proprietary technologies.

YOKOHAMA created the “AERO-Y” by using the company’s environment-friendly technologies in every aspect for the growth of EV motorization in the future. It is a conceptual car manufactured based on the company’s desire to make users feel intuitive sense of “pleasure of driving”. In developing the “AERO-Y”, YOKOHAMA focused on “aerodynamic drag reduction” as the theme and intensively utilized its latest technologies cultivated at various divisions through the aerodynamics-based designing of tyres and bodies and the development of aerospace products and HAMATITE adhesives and sealants. In designing the “AERO-Y” body, MOONCRAFT.CO., LTD. represented by Mr. Takuya Yura*, a racing car designer, cooperated with YOKOHAMA.

Under the theme of “harmonize the pleasure of driving with the environment” and “the research and development of EV tyres”, YOKOHAMA has continued to promote EV technological development. In addition to its many years of supporting various EV races and events, YOKOHAMA has participated in “Pikes Peak International Hill Climb” a world-famous hill-climb race with EV racing cars and broke the EV-class world speed records for 3 straight years from 2010.

Main technologies used for “AERO-Y”

<Tyre development technology>

Aerodynamic drag reduction on vehicles

With YOKOHAMA’s proprietary tyre aerodynamic technology, dimples are employed for the tyre side that becomes outer surface when mounted on a car, and fin-shaped protuberances for the tyre side that becomes inner surface. While the dimples help reduce aerodynamic drag on the tyre, the fins generate air flow that pushes the car forward by increasing the air pressure in the front side of a wheel wells, thus making it possible to contribute to fuel efficiency improvement by reducing aerodynamic drag on vehicles.

Achievement of high driving performance, excellent fuel-saving and quiet-ride

In addition to “nano blend rubber”, an advanced compound blending technology including orange oil, YOKOHAMA employed a pattern design with higher fuel-saving, quiet-ride features, thus achieving superior fuel-saving and quiet-ride performance that should be offered by an EV, without sacrificing its high dry and wet performance

 

<Aerospace products development technology>

Employment of prepreg* for ultra-lightweight, high-strength CFRP

By utilizing technologies cultivated through developing structural materials and lavatory modules for passenger aircrafts, YOKOHAMA employed the prepreg for CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics) certified by the world’s largest aircraft maker for the first time in Japan for the whole body of the “AERO-Y” after dedicated tuning. With its ultra-light weight regardless of high strength and durability, the CFRP contributes to longer service life of the EV battery.

* Prepreg is a sheeted material consisting of reinforced fiber impregnated with resin and the prepreg for CFRP uses carbon fiber as reinforced fiber. CFRP is formed through thermal curing of stacked prepreg sheets.

 

<HAMATITE adhesives and sealants technology>

High adhesive technology for different-type materials including metal and resin

EVs are expected to employ more resin materials because of resolved thermal problem in internal combustion engines and body frame structures using aluminium and resin materials for lighter weight. In order to combine these different-type materials, an adhesive capable of replacing welding is essential. YOKOHAMA has therefore employed the HAMATITE technology with outstanding achievements in wide-ranging applications encompassing from automobiles to construction.

 

* Profile of Mr. Takuya Yura

Born in Tokyo in 1951, Mr. Yura is racing car designer and representative of MOONCRAFT.CO., LTD. He has been engaged in racing car manufacturing since his high-school age. In 1972, he began acting as a free-lance designer and, since then, has been creating F1 and various other machines. The aerodynamic degree of perfection of his work is very high, giving him significant reputation both in Japan and overseas.

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