Checkout this video of the Energy Return Wheel from Britek Tire and Rubber. It is an airless bike tire that is also supposed to be more efficient when compared to a traditional bike tire.
Here is another video that will give you a little more technical info on how the Energy Return wheel works. The video talks about wheels for cars and trucks but the principal is the same for the their bike tires.
Here is a little more info from Briteck:
“The physics behind the ERW is similar to that of a garage door. Even though a garage door weighs several hundred pounds, when it is sprung by the use of springs, it becomes de-weighted. So when you lift it, it only feels like it weighs a few pounds. In summary, an object that is sprung requires dramatically less energy to move than an unsprung object. In addition to the use of springs, an object can be sprung by stretching rubber. Scientists call this “Elastic Potential Energy.” At the center of the ERW is a layer of rubber. Through the use of adjustable rods, the rubber is stretched which stores elastic potential energy in the wheel, turning the ERW into a 360-degree slingshot that retains energy (hence the term “Energy Return Wheel”). When the ERW is attached to an object, that object becomes sprung. Just like a garage door that is sprung, the attached object becomes de-weighted and requires dramatically less energy to move than an unsprung object. Less energy to move means an increase in efficiency.”
Apparently the ride feel can be adjusted via the screws in the wheels.
I hope to have more detailed info about this new bike tire and wheel technology soon.
In the meantime you can check out the Energy Return Wheel website and YouTube channel.
-Pete
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What about deep snow and ice performance? Hypothetically, I can see this getting filled with ice in no time and breaking down at that point.
Hi Dave, Good point! These are still in the prototype stage, so we will have to see what the finished product looks like.
So are they available in my E-bike’s tire size 26×195 ?
I cant find them anywhere for sale ?
Hi Allan, these tires/wheels are still in the prototype stage right now. I hope to have more info soon on tech specs and possible availability date.
Since this ERW is expending energy to help turn the bike wheel, it must be using up it’s potential energy and must need to have it regenerated. How often does this need to be done and how do you really save on energy if you include the energy required to replace that lost in conversion to kinetic energy?
I have to admit that in the case of the garage spring, it only has to have energy put into it once: when it is stretched and attached to it’s anchor. The garage spring doesn’t seem to use up it’s potential energy. But maybe when you close the garage door you are re-stretching the spring.