Hankook launches EV-specific iON tires in US to enhance mileage
Less than a year after announcing its own lineup of EV-specific tires, Hankook has begun selling its iON evo all season tires in the US to support both sedans and SUVs. These new tires come in a variety of different sizes and should help reduce noise while simultaneously help maximize range.
Hankook Tire & Technology is a South Korean tire company founded over 80 years ago whose name directly translates to “Korea Tire.” It currently sits as one of the largest tire manufacturers on the planet and remains a particularly recognized name in motorsports like Formula One.
In 2020, Hankook Tire announced it had been chosen by the FIA to provide tires to Gen 3 vehicles of the Formula E World Championship, replacing Michelin. Following competitors like Bridgestone and Pirelli, Hankook Tire has also developed its own line of tires that cater specifically to the unique driving of an EV.
We shared Hankook’s first news of its iON line of tires last March, when the company stated it would be launching winter and summer EV tires for drivers in Europe, in addition to all-season tires for US consumers. Today, Hankook has officially launched those tires in the US ahead of their racing debut in Formula E in early 2023.
Hankook’s EV tires to offer better grip, longer range
Hankook Tire shared specifications of its new line of iON evo AS tires in a press release today. The standard and SUV versions of the EV tires combine to offer 26 different sizes in support rim diameters between 18 and 22 inches.
Hankook states that the iON tires are built using its “EVolution” compound, comprised of high concentration silica to evenly distribute road pressure and extend the tire’s life. The company’s optimized curing technology and advanced compound also reduces rolling resistance, helping enhance battery life and extend EV range. Hankook vice president of RE development Kijong Kil spoke:
The iON evo AS and iON evo AS SUV were developed for the EV driver that wants to maximize their driving experience without sacrificing the unique benefits of this new class of vehicle. Hankook’s EVolution technology, Hankook Sound Absorber and EV Contour Technology come together as the basis for an innovative, all-season tire that delivers outstanding results for EVs.
Other benefits include knurling technology inside the tire grooves that reduce tread pattern noise while optimizing noise-absorbing material inside the tire cavity itself to reduce cabin noise, particularly at high speeds. The iON EV tires also include Hankook’s EV Contour Technology, which increases lateral rigidity by 25% and cornering rigidity by 20% (compared to all-season touring tires). The result is better grip for EVs, which are significantly heavier than traditional ICE models.
Both tires are available in the US now and come with a 50,000 mile warranty.
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Mercedes-Benz is sending nearly 5,000 electric vans to Amazon’s European delivery partners in its biggest EV handoff to date. The fleet will hit the streets in five countries in the coming months.
Three-quarters of the fleet are Mercedes’ larger eSprinter vans, while the rest are the more compact eVito panel vans. More than 2,500 are going to Germany, and Amazon says this new EV fleet will help deliver more than 200 million parcels a year across Europe.
This is the biggest EV order Mercedes-Benz Vans has ever received. It builds on a partnership that started in 2020, when Amazon first added more than 1,800 electric vans from Mercedes to its delivery network.
“We’re further intensifying our long-standing relationship with Amazon and working together toward an all-electric future of transport,” said Sagree Sardien, head of sales & marketing at Mercedes-Benz Vans. “Our eVito and eSprinter are perfectly tailored to meet the demands of our commercial customers regarding efficiency and range.”
In 2020, Mercedes-Benz joined Amazon’s Climate Pledge, a commitment Amazon co-founded with Global Optimism to reach net zero by 2040.
Both the eSprinter and eVito are designed with delivery drivers in mind. With batteries tucked into the underbody, the vans offer unrestricted cargo space. Both come standard with the MBUX multimedia system, which supports the integration of automatic charging stops and Mercedes’ public charging network via navigation.
Safety and comfort got upgrades, too. New driver assistance features come standard, and the Amazon vans are customized with shelves and a sliding door between the cabin and cargo area for easy parcel access.
The eVito vans, which were built at Mercedes’ plant in Vitoria, Spain, are ideal for last-mile urban deliveries. They come in 60 kWh or 90 kWh battery options, with peak motor outputs of either 85 kW or 150 kW, and can travel up to 480 km (298 miles) on a full charge.
Meanwhile, the eSprinter is the all-rounder for range and loading volume. Built in Düsseldorf, it comes in two lengths and three battery sizes, with a range of up to 484 km (300 miles). It boasts up to 14 cubic meters of cargo space and can handle a gross weight of up to 4.25 tonnes.
Read more: Amazon places its largest-ever order for electric semi trucks
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It already outsold Tesla in the UK and Europe, but this could be just the start. BYD said it’s launching new vehicles, including EVs, faster than any carmaker in Europe has done so far.
BYD goes all in on Europe with new EVs, PHEVs
BYD took the spotlight earlier this month after launching its most affordable EV in Europe so far. The Dolphin Surf, a rebadged version of the Seagull EV sold in China, starts at just £18,650 (just over $25,000) in the UK.
At a UK launch event, Alfredo Altavilla, BYD’s special advisor for Europe, said (via Autocar) the “Dolphin Surf was the missing piece in the A/B-segment.”
It will compete with entry-level EVs, such as the Dacia Spring, the UK’s cheapest EV, which starts at £14,995 ($20,000).
Yet, the low-cost Dolphin Surf is only one piece of BYD’s master plan. “We have been launching six cars in less than a year,” Altavilla explained, adding, “We are covering all of the most important segments of the European car market.”
Altavilla even boasted that, “I have zero problem in saying I don’t think there has ever been such a product offensive done in Europe as the one BYD is doing.”
Although BYD is best known for its low-cost EVs, like the Seagull, which starts under $10,000 in China, the auto giant is quickly expanding into new segments.
BYD sells luxury vehicles under the Denza Yangwang brands. Denza is BYD’s answer to Porsche and other German luxury brands. Meanwhile, Yangwang is an ultra-luxury brand that will serve as BYD’s tech beacon.
According to Altavilla, this could be just the start. “We’re going to get together again after the summer break for another important reveal, and through the end of the year, there will be others,” BYD’s special advisor for Europe said.
BYD is set to begin production at its new plant in Hungary by the end of the year, enabling the company to customize vehicles for buyers in the region.
“As we go forward into 2026, more and more of the BYD line-up will be specific to this region,” Altavilla explained.
In separate news, BYD announced on Monday that its “Xi’an” car carrier is loaded and ready to ship off to the UK, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and other countries, carrying about 7,000 EVs and PHEVs.
Electrek’s Take
In what was called a “watershed moment,” BYD registered more vehicles in Europe than Tesla for the first time in April.
It also had more vehicle registrations in the UK than Tesla last month, with the Seal U taking the top spot for the most popular plug-in hybrid.
With the Dolphin Surf arriving, local production set to come online later this year, and several new models on the way, BYD is laying the groundwork to capture its share of the European auto market.
According to S&P Global Mobility forecasts, BYD is expected to more than double its sales in Europe this year, with around 186,000 vehicles sold. By 2029, BYD’s sales could double again to around 400,000. Between its plants in Hungary and Turkey, China’s EV leader is expected to have a combined capacity of 500,000 units.
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