Bright IDEA Features Bridgestone Brand TiresPlug-In Hybrid Electric Concept Unveiled Today On Capitol Hill
Nashville, Tenn. (April 21, 2009) — Bridgestone Americas, which is focused on environmental leadership through its One Team, One Planet global initiative, is proud the new highly-anticipated green concept vehicle introduced today by Bright Automotive will come equipped with Bridgestone brand tires. Bright Automotive is a new automotive manufacturer focused on producing clean energy vehicles in the United States.
Sporting Bridgestone Turanza tires, the IDEA -- a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) which will achieve 100 mpg -- was unveiled this morning in a briefing ceremony on Capitol Hill. Members of Congress and representatives from companies involved with this unique vehicle attended the high-profile event. The IDEA is the first vehicle Bright Automotive plans to roll out to achieve its high volume production goal of 50,000 units in 2013.
Although the concept vehicle is sporting Bridgestone Turanza tires, the IDEA will ultimately be fitted with Bridgestone-brand Ecopia tires as the original equipment fitment. The Ecopia tire line incorporates Bridgestone's latest and best low rolling resistance technology. Ecopia targets fuel efficient vehicles, including hybrids and electric vehicles and will be used in original equipment and replacement applications.
“We are elated to showcase our Bridgestone brand on the IDEA, a new 'green' vehicle filling an important market niche and also complementing our company's desire to conserve our natural resources, said Mike Martini, President Original Equipment, U.S. & Canada, Consumer Tire Sales Division, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations. The IDEA is a perfect fit for the Bridgestone brand Ecopia tire line which is designed to optimize performance and provide low-rolling resistance which leads to improved fuel economy -- all of which are important to today's environmentally conscious consumer.“
According to John Waters, CEO and President of Bright Automotive, We named our first vehicle the IDEA because of the role it will play in helping revolutionize American transportation and moving the country toward a more secure and sustainable energy future.
Waters added, We know it is possible to achieve dramatic, breakthrough fuel efficiency and deliver tremendous customer value. This is the compelling idea that drives our company and it is fully captured in our first vehicle.
Bright Automotive is maximizing platform and fuel efficiency by incorporating lightweight materials, advanced aerodynamics and low-rolling resistance tires to use less combined energy. On a full charge, the IDEA will operate in all-electric mode for the first 30 miles before switching to hybrid mode for a full range of 400 miles. Tests to support this efficiency demonstrated for a typical drive of 50 miles, the IDEA consumes gallon of gasoline equivalent to 100 mpg.
Bright Automotive (www.brightautomotive.com) has put together the most experienced PHEV, hybrid and electric vehicle team in the industry. Waters developed the battery pack for General Motors' first production electric vehicle, the EV1, and other company executives and engineers have spent years working for major auto manufacturers and suppliers.
About Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) is a business unit of Bridgestone Americas, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. Reporting into the BATO business unit are the company's Latin American tire operations, the U.S. and Canadian consumer tire businesses and the U.S. and Canadian commercial tire businesses. BATO develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The business unit is focused on retail, wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in the Americas. In addition, through its Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions unit, retreading customers have access to industry-leading research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales expertise, providing them with a total tire solution.
About Bright Automotive:
Bright Automotive was launched out of the Rocky Mountain Institute, where it had the great benefit of visionary leadership from partners including Alcoa, Duke Energy, Google.org, Johnson Controls, and the Turner Foundation. Today, with the most experienced EV and PHEV team in the industry, Bright is prepared to answer the nations call for clean energy vehicles that are developed and built here in America.