Driver training helps with tyre wear of electric vehicles, says Red

With reports that electric vehicles (EVs) suffer from increased tyre wear, Red Corporate Driver Training says the issue is with the driver not the vehicle.

Although the extra weight and strong acceleration of EVs are given as reasons for increased tyre wear, the driver training provider argues it is a lack of understanding of how to drive EVs that is a bigger contributor to costs.

ATS Euromaster has warned that fleets making the switch to EVs need to prepare for a shift in the balance of service, maintenance and repair (SMR) spend. 

EVs are expected to cost less to service, thanks in part to fewer moving parts and the absence of requirements such as oil changes, but tyre life expectancy is likely to change compared with traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) fleet vehicles.

However, like ATS, Red Corporate Driver Training says that the greatest influence on the wear rate of tyres is the driver.

Seb Goldin, CEO of Red Corporate Driver Training, said: “Because EVs tend to be heavier than their ICE equivalents, they are more likely to be used in stop-start urban environments, and with higher torque through the driven wheels, fleet managers may be expecting higher tyre wear rates.

“But driver behaviour is actually by far the most important factor too. EVs are able to get up to speed quicker, and while they are generally driven more slowly overall, from stationary they’re often accelerated harder, which wears the tyres out.”

Goldin explained that after training, its clients see no more tyre wear for EVs than usual, if they are driven properly and the unique characteristics of these vehicles are taken into account.

“Not only does this have an effect on reducing costs and wear rates back to expected norms, it also aligns tyre wear with servicing schedules,” he added.

“This has a safety benefit: those drivers wearing tyres out far quicker than servicing schedules may mean they are on the road with illegal, unsafe tyres far longer than they realise.”

To help businesses manage the transition to EVs, Red has launched an EV familiarisation training course.