Pirelli in link-up for ‘net-zero’ highway testbed

Rome, Georgia – Pirelli North America has partnered with a US-based road sustainability organisation The Ray to develop a “net-zero highway testbed” in the country.

The project will involve an 18-mile stretch of Interstate 85 in West Georgia, near the Pirelli factory in Rome, said the Italian tire maker 8 Aug.

The aim is to advance technology for road safety, circular economy, EV charging infrastructure, renewable energy, and environmental & social impacts of tires and roads.

As part of the project, Pirelli is researching the impact of rubber-modified asphalt, as well as the use of tire-derived aggregate for stormwater 'galleries'.

The work chimes with with Pirelli efforts to develop “mitigation strategies” for the broader impacts of its products, including end-of-life tires and tire & road wear particles.

The partnership with The Ray, said the tire maker, will look at areas of mitigation as the non-profit organisation investigates net-zero transportation infrastructure.

The project, according to Allie Kelly, executive director of The Ray, is expected to produce “groundbreaking projects and research” over the coming years.

The Ray's other current work includes studies into the use of solar technologies, cloud-based data management for connected vehicles and first-responder drones.