The U-AP 002 comes with decreased rolling resistance and extended mileage (compared with its predecessor) to reduce fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and total cost of ownership.
It arrives on the back of a lengthy development project with Stagecoach, whose Manchester city centre fleet of green vehicles became the first in Europe to operate on the product.
Producing 69dB, the U-AP002 reduces noise pollution by 2dB compared to its predecessor, the U-AP 001. It has also been created with a higher load capacity versus previous generation, which is crucial when factoring in battery weight; suitable with eight tons in steer axle.
The Bridgestone U-AP 002 boasts a B-grade in rolling resistance, to reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. It also offers 9% longer tyre life; the tyre’s thick sidewall protection and strong casing enable high robustness and multiple tyre lives thanks to retreading. These features combine to result in a long-lasting tyre that reduces total cost of ownership per kilometre.
The new tyre can be used year-round as it’s winter-ready, and features 3PMSF and M+S markings.
Bridgestone commercial sales director Greg Ward said it was a feat of engineering to create a product that lowers CO2 emissions and supports sustainability, whilst simultaneously offering optimised longevity.
The tyre will also be supplied with electronic tagging system RFID (radio-frequency identification) which will bring further value to fleet customers by enhancing the traceability of their tyre casings and providing a time-efficient and accurate system for data sharing and entry. Customers will be able to freely access their report findings, which will ultimately help to educate the business and optimise their total cost of ownership.
Ward said that the ability to test the tyre with Stagecoach over 18 months was crucial in the tyre’s overall development; the specification of which will be replicated in many other European markets as a result.