Continental focuses on developing direct tire pressure monitoring systems

Figure 1: Continental focuses on direct tire pressure monitoring systems

Recently, Continental AG stated that it will focus on the research and development of direct tire pressure monitoring systems and strongly recommends that global automakers use this product in new models to monitor the inflation status of vehicle tires in real time, thereby helping to optimize driving and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

The direct tire pressure monitoring system places sensors in each tire to quickly, directly and accurately collect air pressure and temperature information at any time, under any road conditions and at all driving speeds. Regarding the overall advantages of the direct tire pressure monitoring system, according to Helmut Matschi, member of the Continental Interior Business Board, the function of directly monitoring tire pressure has multiple benefits, with advantages in speed and accuracy in real-time functions, and improves driving safety and comfort by placing sensors in the tires.

In contrast, indirect tire pressure monitoring systems calculate tire pressure using information from tire speed sensors, but their speed and accuracy are insufficient to ensure fuel economy targets are met, and thus fail to meet Europe's stringent CO2 emissions standards.

To reduce carbon dioxide emissions, more and more countries are mandating the use of tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS)

Currently, in addition to the United States, which has already formulated relevant regulations for passenger cars, the first phase of TPMS mandatory use regulations in the European Union and South Korea came into effect in 2012 and 2013 respectively. The first phase refers to the first step to help drivers reduce fuel consumption. In Europe, the second phase will further ensure that the overall plan reduces carbon dioxide emissions while improving safety standards by adopting all feasible methods. The driving force behind the legislation is that maintaining tire pressure at an appropriate level is conducive to improving vehicle safety, fuel economy and emission environmental protection.

According to statistics, the vast majority of tire failures come from slow and difficult-to-detect processes, such as chronic air leakage. Because the direct tire pressure monitoring system has intuitive and accurate pressure observation, it can quickly detect hidden dangers that are difficult to detect with other equipment or the naked eye. The direct tire pressure monitoring system will promptly issue warnings and reminders to the driver so that the driver can take timely countermeasures to ensure that the tire pressure is at a normal level, which not only improves safety, but also avoids unexpected increases in fuel consumption due to increased rolling resistance, and also extends the service life of the tire. Whether it is the car owner, the manufacturer or the entire society, it will benefit from it.