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Michelin, Clemson team up on $6.8 million research project seeks 'breakout ideas' for more fuel-efficient tire

Submitted by: John Warner on Feb 03, 2008 at 2:21 pm Tagged with: Academia, Advanced Materials, Automotive, Innovation, reserch, Transportation Source: greenvilleonline.com

By Jenny Munro
BUSINESS WRITER
jmunro@greenvillenews.com
Originally published at The Greenville News

Greenville-based Michelin North America said it will invest $6.8 million in a three-year research partnership with Clemson University to continue efforts to reduce rolling resistance in passenger/light truck tires.

When rolling resistance is lessened, vehicle fuel efficiency improves and emissions from C02 and other greenhouse gases are reduced, said Jim Micali, chairman and president of Michelin North America.

"The eyes of the transportation industry are fixed squarely on the Upstate of South Carolina," he said. "We believe that the future -- not only of the automotive industry but also of transportation and mobility -- lies in the imaginations and hands of these researchers searching for ways to improve fuel economy and overall mobility."

Michelin North America joined its parent company in October in a worldwide event to highlight the company's responsibility to help protect the environment while maintaining the safety of tires and reducing fuel consumption. The company pledged to reduce rolling resistance by 50 percent within the next 15 years.

Rest at The Greenville News