Michelin UPTIS, the prototype puncture-proof tyre, will be fitted to nearly 50 DHL delivery vehicles in Singapore by end 2023.
Michelin’s Airless Innovation Takes First Steps on Last Mile Delivery Market
Nearly 50 DHL Express vans will begin running on the Michelin Unique Punture-Proof Tyre System (UPTIS) airless tyre to make last-mile deliveries in Singapore by the end of 2023. The UPTIS tyre is developed in association with Maxion, the supplier of a specific rim for the tyre.
This pilot program begins with the first vehicles making the first delivery trips from 10th January. Thanks to a partnership between DHL and Michelin, Michelin‘s airless prototype tyre, has taken another step forward. One year ahead of schedule, the very first Michelin UPTIS tyres are now marketed in real-world conditions.
The Michelin UPTIS prototype is a puncture-proof wheel/tyre assembly with no compressed air and is intended for cars and light vans. The air has been replaced by a revolutionary structure capable of supporting the vehicle. This ensures the wheel’s robustness and guarantees driving comfort and safety. It was designed as a plug-and-play solution that allows users to drive conveniently and not worry about road hazards impacting the tyres. It also limits the number of tyres scrapped due to punctures.
With the Michelin UPTIS tyre, DHL can optimise its fleet’s productivity and ensure business continuity, as tyre pressure issues and punctures are eliminated. This will lower the frequency of tyre replacement, leading to less wastage.
“As a pioneer in green logistics, we are excited to partner Michelin to trial its airless tyres on our vehicles in Singapore. To drive sustainability efforts here, we have since converted 80 vehicles in our ground fleet to electric vans. This collaboration marks another milestone for us as we set out to green our last mile operations and achieve net-zero carbon emissions across the DHL network globally,” says Christopher Ong, Managing Director at DHL Express Singapore.
“Michelin UPTIS is a major breakthrough innovation in the tyre field. This is a result of some fifty patents linked to the tyre’s structure and high-tech materials. It demonstrates Michelin’s capacity for innovation in favour of safer mobility that is better for the environment. We are delighted that DHL is trusting Michelin to equip its fleet with the very first Michelin UPTIS tyres, marketed one year ahead of schedule,” declared Bruno De Feraudy, Director of OEM activities for the Michelin Group.
Airless technology is the key to Michelin’s vision of a fully sustainable tyre by 2050. Today, 20 per cent of tyres are scrapped prematurely due to flats and blowouts (12 per cent) or irregular wear and tear caused by poor tyre pressure (8 per cent). Based on internal research, Michelin projects that UPTIS airless technology could prevent premature scrapping of up to 200 million tyres a year worldwide or 2 million tons of material – a material savings roughly equivalent to the weight of 200 Eiffel Towers.
