The advantages of using ContiPressureCheck and ContiConnect are not limited to the heavy haulage sector. As a founding partner of the Extreme E racing series, Continental puts its renowned TPMS technology to the test by deploying it in competitive motorsport.
Launched in 2021, Extreme E sees 10 teams compete in five challenging stages across the world. Using purpose-built fully-electric SUV vehicles, the series showcases the capabilities of electric vehicle motorsport in the most inhospitable environments and draws attention to the growing pressures on our planet.
In addition to supplying the purpose-designed CrossContact Extreme E tyre, for the series, Continental fits ContiPressureCheck sensors to the tyres of each participating SUV to enable the tyre pressure and temperature to be constantly monitored. Real-time data updates are managed through the ContiConnect platform, providing a live feed to the driver inside the vehicle and to the race team in the garage.
“Our Continental Digital Solutions customers experience the advantages of using ContiPressureCheck and ContiConnect on a daily basis,” explains Ian Jackson, Digital Fleet Solutions Manager at Continental Tyre Group. “It’s great, therefore, to see the technology being showcased on a global platform as part of the Extreme E racing series.
“Away from the racetrack, ContiPressureCheck alerts commercial vehicle operators to a potential fault with a tyre, allowing the vehicle to be stopped, examined and repaired as soon as possible. That can help to prevent the tyre from being written off and reduces the risk of a dangerous tyre blowout at speed. Our ContiConnect system allows that information to be fed back remotely to a laptop, phone or tablet, allowing maintenance and planning teams to react accordingly to the situation.”
One operator utilising a broad range of Continental’s Digital Solutions products is G. Webb. The bulk haulier uses ContiPressureCheck across its fleet, with long-haul tippers and articulated trucks connected to the company’s headquarters through the ContiConnect platform.
“Every week ContiPressureCheck is making us aware of issues that the drivers weren’t noticing or weren’t actioning,” said Fleet Engineering Director, Paul Broker. “It means that, where we can, it’ll be a workshop repair rather than a call out to the roadside. Each call out costs us something in the region of £100, so it does start to add up. That’s on top of a disgruntled customer, the risk of having the load cancelled and a truck not in revenue earning service.”
Continental recently announced that it is to launch ContiConnect 2.0 – a comprehensive upgrade of the system with a new web portal and a new multifunctional app. The platform will also pave the way for the next generation of digital tyre management.