Evaluation of E-Scooter Tyre Performance Using Dynamometer-Based Coast-Down Tests

Abstract

E-scooters have become a popular form of personal transport with millions of E-scooters used worldwide. This paper details an initial investigation into the relative differences in rolling resistance for a range of e-scooter tyres. Tyre performance was measured using dynamometer-based coast-down tests to determine the coast-down distance and coefficient of rolling resistance of each tyre. Insights from testing showed that e-scooter tyres had coefficients of rolling resistance that were 3.5 to 6 times the coefficient of rolling resistance of a 700x32C bike tyre. Comparisons between tyres of similar specification showed the tyres with solid inserts had more rolling resistance than a pneumatic tyre at the rated pressure. Comparisons of equivalent airless and pneumatic tyres the rated pressure indicated airless tyres had slightly better performance in terms of coast-down distance. The results also show how a decrease in tyre pressure increases rolling resistance, highlighting the importance of maintaining rated tyre pressure to improve e-scooter efficiency. The results from this study provide useful insights into the performance of tyres that can be used on low-powered vehicles.

Comparison of e-scooter tyre performance using rolling resistance trailer

“…As expected, towing force increased with normal force. The trend of these results is supported by results of previous studies (Stilwell et al, 2023, Bergiers et al, 2012 which used coast down tests to evaluate tyre performance. Of the nine tyres, seven had a linear increase in towing force with load, with Tyre F and Tyre I not having a linear relationship between the towing force and the load.…”

“…Although a range of tyres are available to be used on e-scooters, quantitative details of tyre rolling resistance coefficients are lacking from the literature. Previous work used dynamometer-based coast-down tests to compare the performance of a range of escooter tyres to a standard bicycle tyre (Stilwell et al, 2023). The results of this study highlighted the rolling resistance of e-scooter tyre is significantly higher than the rolling resistance of a standard bicycle tyre.…”