DAPURPACUID – Hankook Tire presents the newest tire product specifically for electric buses, namely Smart City AU06. This tire was introduced to the Korean market in October 2022.
Later, this product will be installed in the bus fleet owned by PT Transportation Jakarta (TransJakarta), in order to support low-emission transportation operations.
So far, Hankook Tire, through its distributor PT Paderona Arthajaya, has supplied tires measuring 275/70R225 AU06 to TransJakarta electric bus unit operator companies since early 2024.
With intensive monitoring, so far Smart City AU06 tires have provided better performance in terms of service life and energy efficiency compared to conventional Truck & Bus Radial (TBR) tires.
President Director of PT Hankook Tire Sales Indonesia, Yoonsoo Shin, said that his party wants to support the goal of low carbon emissions through the electrification of public transportation.
As one of the largest transportation systems in Indonesia with 1.3 million passengers every day, TransJakarta Operator has become an important strategic partner for the company.
“This collaboration is a significant step in accelerating the development of the electric vehicle ecosystem in Indonesia,” said Yoonsoo, in his official broadcast.
On the other hand, National Sales Manager TBR Hankook Tire Sales Indonesia, Ahmad Juweni emphasized the importance of using tires that are suitable for electric buses, because the torque is much greater than conventional buses.
This high torque requires strong tire traction to avoid the risk of slipping, especially when carrying heavy loads considering that electric buses use battery drives.
Ahmad explained, after using it for around 6-7 months at one of the TransJakarta operators, the estimated lifespan of the Hankook Smart City AU06 was 20%-40% longer than conventional tires.
According to him, thanks to the rigid block tread pattern design with a wider contact area, which helps distribute pressure evenly so that the tire is more resistant to wear and deformation.
“Apart from that, electric buses are usually heavier than regular buses, so they require strong tires, as can be seen from the higher Load Index and Ply Rating specifications,” added Ahmad.
Test results at the Hankook Korea Center show that the Smart City AU06 has 18 percent lower rolling resistance than Hankook’s conventional TBR tires.
This condition is created thanks to the Z-shaped groove pattern on the right and left sides of the tire tread, which is designed to reduce noise when the tire comes into contact with the road.
In the middle of the tire tread is equipped with knurling, or small patterns designed to increase the tire’s traction in wet and dry conditions.
This tire is also able to save energy compared to conventional tires, thanks to ‘switch’ groove technology and a surface layer with a three-dimensional wave pattern design.
Ahmad explained that the technological innovation in the Smart City AU06 tire was designed to achieve operational efficiency. With a longer service life, bus operators can reduce the frequency of tire replacement, which ultimately reduces operational and maintenance costs.
“The energy efficiency offered by these tires also helps reduce energy consumption, in line with efforts to reduce operational costs and increase profitability,” he concluded.
The Smart City AU06 tire is available in the Hankook Indonesia distributor network, with consultation services and maintenance guidance to ensure the tire remains in optimal condition before use. (dpid/TH)
Source: dapurpacu.id
