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Bridgestone Announces Victory of Teams Using "ECOPIA with ologic" Tires in the 2019 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge

Bridgestone Announces Victory of Teams Using "ECOPIA with ologic" Tires in the 2019 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge

Published 11-01-19

Submitted by Bridgestone Americas

Bridgestone Corporation (Bridgestone) today announced that "Agoria Solar Team of Belgium (No.8)" won the Challenger Class*1 and "Solar Team Eindhoven of Netherland (No.40) won the Cruiser Class*2 in the 2019 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC), the world's foremost solar car race. Both teams were supplied Bridgestone "ECOPIA with ologic" tires.

"ECOPIA with ologic" tires are fuel-efficient tires designed specifically for solar cars using fuel-efficient tire technology from Bridgestone, ologic. "ECOPIA with ologic" tires ensure the necessary durability while featuring reduced rolling resistance. Tires using ologic technology are narrower than standard tires with a wider diameter, creating a shape that yields high levels of fuel efficiency and safety. The wider diameter limits changes in the shape of the contact patch to yield lower rolling resistance, which improves fuel efficiency, and the narrower shape reduces air resistance while driving.

Held in Australia once every two years, BWSC racers compete on a course spanning 3,000 km from Darwin on the northern edge of Australia to Adelaide on the southern edge.

"The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge has proven its name this year as it was a very fast race with incredible new challenges every day. Due to the greatly reduced rolling resistance and incredible durability of our Bridgestone tires, we managed to perform a catch-up maneuver from P3 to P1 in the last two days. It was a real team effort to get from Darwin to Adelaide in 34 hours in a car designed and built in 15 months by a group of 19 students that only drives on solar energy!" said Willem-Jan Claes, team manager, "Agoria Solar Team."

"We are really happy we could use tires from Bridgestone, since they were crucial during the longest stage of the Challenge. During this stage, we had to cover an enormous distance with strong headwinds in excess of 30 km/h. Without the low rolling resistance of the Bridgestone tires, our chances of not finishing this stage, would have been much higher," said Evan Quadvlieg, technical acquisition manager, "Solar Team Eindhoven."

"Congratulations to 'Agoria Solar Team' and 'Solar Team Eindhoven' for their victories in the Challenger Class and the Cruiser Class. As the title sponsor, we are pleased we were able to support all BWSC teams in realizing their dreams. In our future involvement with the BWSC, I look forward to continuing our contributions to the development of solar cars, support of aspiring young engineers, and preservation of the environment through the use of sunlight as a new source of energy ," said Kazutoshi Oyama, Director of Brand Strategy and Communications, Bridgestone Corporation.

Bridgestone announced its continued support of the BWSC through 2030 as title sponsor. This partnership embodies the three Priority Areas of the Bridgestone global corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitment Our Way to Serve, Mobility, People and Environment, while employing innovation to improve the way people move, live, work and play. In addition to supporting the competition as a title sponsor, Bridgestone will continue to supply "ECOPIA with ologic" tires to participating teams, contributing to the mobility of society and reducing environment impacts while supporting young engineers.

*1The Challenger Class is a race to reach the goal the quickest in vehicles designed for speed; vehicles require four wheels and one driver.
*2The Cruiser Class is a race testing vehicles' energy efficiency and practicality; vehicles must have four wheels and be able to be ridden by one driver and more than one passenger.

About Bridgestone Corporation:

Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. In addition to tires for use in a wide variety of applications, it also manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which include industrial rubber and chemical products and sporting goods. Its products are sold in over 150 nations and territories around the world.

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Bridgestone Americas

Bridgestone Americas

Nashville, Tennessee-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BSAM and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials, and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAM family of companies also operates the world’s largest chain of automotive tire and service centers. Guided by its global corporate social responsibility commitment, Our Way to Serve, the company is dedicated to improving the way people live, work, move and play in all of the communities it calls home.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Understanding that Serving Society with Superior Quality is our heritage and our mission, and embracing our responsibility to future generations as a global leader in our industries, Bridgestone and its teammates around the world employ innovation and technology to improve the way people move, live, work and play.

The best companies not only perform for their stakeholders, but also contribute to a better world.

Through innovative technology, Bridgestone is committed to providing easier, safer, smoother and more seamless mobility for its customers. Building on the enthusiasm of its employees to connect with people worldwide, the company is also focused on building safer and healthier communities, and improving access to education. With regard to the environment, Bridgestone continues to work toward a sustainable society by operating in harmony with nature, valuing natural resources, and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

People

We are committed to utilizing our strengths and competencies to address health, safety and education issues in our communities.

Mobility

Through innovative technology, we are committed to easier, safer, smoother and seamless mobility for our society and customers.

Environment

We are committed to continually working toward a sustainable society with integrity and in unity with our customers, partners, communities and the world around us.

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