Bridgestone to develop tires for H-powered vehicle maker

France -- Hopium, a French-based pioneer in the manufacture of hydrogen-powered vehicles, is partnering with Bridgestone to develop tires for its Hopium Machina high-end sedan.

The partners are to design bespoke tires with low rolling resistance technology, a major factor to enhance the Hopium vehicle's 1,000km driving range, Hopium said 12 May

The tires, it noted, will be created using Bridgestone's proprietary ‘virtual tyre development’ technology -- said to provide benefits in terms of both efficiency and sustainability.

The agreement with Bridgestone is “a major milestone in our ambitious roadmap,” according to Olivier Lombard, Hopium's CEO and founder. 

With considerable expertise in designing tires and tire technologies for newer types of mobility, Bridgestone will… help us live up to the challenges ahead," added Lombard.

"We're placing our expertise in the field of zero-emission mobility and helping bring about a more sustainable future of mobility in the process," added Steven De Bock, VP consumer replacement and OE, Bridgestone EMIA.