Panama. In an interview with René Araúz Barnes, Regional Marketing Manager of Hankook Tire, a subsidiary in Panama, we talked about the launch of the iON brand in this country.
Aftermarket International (AI): What does the launch of the iON brand for the first time in Panama represent?
René Araúz (RA): The launch of the iON brand in Panama represents a response and solution for the needs of electric vehicles in the market.
Although the sale of electric vehicles is not yet large in the country, interest in them is growing rapidly, and also in all the products associated with them.
With the development of mobility, tires are segmented into product categories to meet specific requirements and needs. That's where iON comes in.
iON tires are designed specifically for electric vehicles, with attributes that fit the characteristics of those vehicles.
As a result, iON excels in providing safety, performance and efficiency for electric vehicles, making the driving experience much more pleasant.
AI: What features stand out about this type of tyre?
RA: Four important factors of electric vehicles are considered with iON's innovative technology:
The first of these is silent operation. A lot of noise that was hidden under the engine noise becomes more noticeable. That's why iSound Absorber was developed, which helps reduce noise by knurling inside the groove, and by applying a special material to the tire cavity.
The second factor is weight. Batteries make electric vehicles on average 30% heavier, which leads to more tire wear. iSuper Mileage allows for longer tread life by using a high-concentration silica compound and optimized ground pressure distribution.
A third point is range. One of the most constant doubts of consumers is the energy efficiency of electric vehicles. Hankook developed iExtreme Lightness, an optimized curing technology that improves all parts of the tire uniformly. With this, iON is a product with a low rolling resistance, which helps to make the range that can travel with the same load is greater.
Finally, the last point is torque. Despite the extra weight, the higher initial torque of electric vehicles means that greater tread grip is required.
iPerfect Grip increases contour rigidity by 20%, allowing exceptional grip and better stability.
AI: What does the launch of this line indicate for the industry's transition to electric vehicles?
RA: Electric vehicles will bring very significant changes, beyond switching fuel from fossil fuels to electricity.
This indicates that drivers must develop a new attitude towards life with electric vehicles, since these have different characteristics from the conventional vehicle.
As consumers we must learn more about these differences, the impact they have on the driving experience, and what considerations should be taken into account to optimize it. But if there is something common in both is that the vehicle must be in contact with the ground, and this highlights the importance of tires in driving.
AI: What other projects does Hankook have in development to present in the near future?
RA: The iON line will continue to grow, expanding to meet different environments, sizes and types of vehicles.
The iON family already has summer, winter and all-season tires, and plans to launch Touring and All-Weather products this year.
In addition, Hankook continues to analyze the data corresponding to the different tires or characteristics by electric vehicle segments to achieve a competitive development process.
We collect digitized and accurate data for each combination of tires and vehicles, and this will become more critical in the future with the launches of more electric vehicles. Hankook Tire & Technology continues to actively invest in expanding its core capabilities to provide consumers with maximum satisfaction on the road.
