despite the likes of auto giants ford, bmw and tesla releasing electric cars, the technology has yet to become mainstream and a major sticking point is the number of charging stations available now goodyear has created a concept tyre that could spell the end of these stations, and ultimately petrol cars, by charging the car as it drives scroll down for video  goodyear’s concept bh03 tyre (illustrated) was unveiled at the geneva international motor show it is fitted with thermo piezoelectric materials that convert heat into energy to charge an electric car without the need for a charging station this conversion happens when the car is both stationary and moving  called bh023, the tyre concept is fitted with thermo piezoelectric materials when parked, sunlight heats the tyre and this heat is transformed into electricity using the thermo electric material the tyre has also been designed to be ‘ultra black’ to absorb as much heat as possible when being driven, the friction between the tyre and the road as well as the ‘squeezing’ and movement of the piezoelectric material as it rolls generates a small electric voltage piezoelectricity is the charge that builds up in materials such as those made of crystalline and ceramic structures exposing them to mechanical force causes a separation of electrical charge, which sets up a voltage that can be used to charge products when a piezoelectric material is squeezed rapidly, it produces a small electrical voltage for a moment if a voltage is put across the material it makes a tiny change in shape in 2001, trevor baylis, the british inventor best known for his wind up radios, famously walked 100 miles across the namib desert in his ’electric shoes’, which charged a small battery that allowed him to use his mobile phone this electricity is captured and directed to the car’s battery to charge it as it moves ‘this tyre generates electricity through the action of materials in the tyre that capture and transform the energy created by heat when it flexes as it rolls during normal driving conditions,’ explained goodyear ‘the materials used would optimise the tyre's electricity generation capabilities as well as its rolling resistance ‘as demand for electric cars grows, this technology has the potential to significantly contribute to the solution of future mobility challenges ‘this visionary tyre technology could eliminate the vehicle range anxiety motorists may have with electric cars’ goodyear also unveiled a second concept called ‘triple tube’ this tyre features three internal tubes located beneath the tread near the inboard and outboard shoulders of the tyre, as well as the centre it relies on an internal pump that moves air from the main air chamber to the three individual air chambers, or tubes when parked, sunlight heats the tyre and this heat is transformed into electricity using the thermo electric material the tyre has also been designed to be ‘ultra black’ to absorb as much heat as possible  the tyre automatically adjusts   on its own   to three different positions based on road conditions and modes include the eco/safety, sporty and wet traction eco/safety offers maximum inflation in all three tubes and reduces rolling resistance the sporty position, with reduced inflation in the inboard shoulder tube, gives drivers more control of the car when being driven, the friction between the tyre and the road as well as the ‘squeezing’ and movement of the piezoelectric material as it rolls generates a small electric voltage goodyear said the materials used would optimise the tyre's electricity generation capabilities as well as its rolling resistance  this electricity is captured and directed to the car’s battery (illustrated) to charge it as it moves there are no immediate plans to release the concept but the tyre maker said it predicts future cars will use the technology  while the wet traction position, with maximimum inflation in the centre tube, stops the car from aquaplaning thanks to a raised tread in the centre of the tyre there are no immediate plans to release these concepts but the tyre maker said it predicts future cars will use the technology ‘these concept tyres reimagine the role that tyres may play in the future,’ said joe zekoski, goodyear's senior vice president and chief technical officer ‘we envision a future in which our products become more integrated with the vehicle and the consumer, more environmentally friendly and more versatile’
the geneva international motor show second triple tube'
concept bh03 tyre was unveiled at the geneva international motor show  it is fitted with thermo piezoelectric materials that convert heat into energy  this is charged either using sunlight or from friction when the tyre rolls  firm also unveiled a second concept called 'triple tube' this contains tubes that adjust  pressure depending on the road conditions  there are no immediate plans to release these concepts  but the tyre maker said it predicts future cars will use the technology 