News article
Extreme E tyres transformed into basketball court
Continental Tyres, a founding partner of Extreme E, has opened a basketball court in the German city of Hanover using 200 recycled tyres from the first season of the electric vehicle-racing series.
The company has also been working on its most sustainable tyre ever, which is the second generation of the Extreme E CrossContact. This tyre has been created using old PET bottles, which make up 100% of the tyre carcass, and a new silica material created from rice husks – a waste product from agriculture.
There are hopes to integrate this new technology into volume production of various Continental premium tyres later this year.
Ali Russell, chief marketing officer at Extreme E, said: “We are delighted with this initiative from our partner Continental, which pushes the boundaries of how we can re-purpose resources in a way that will benefit so many people.
“Over the past two Extreme E season campaigns, it has become clear that both creative thinking and a great deal of ingenuity is required to deliver the solutions necessary to combat the climate crisis. This fantastic initiative certainly achieves that.”
"These tyres raced in Saudi Arabia, Greenland, and Senegal. Now, in the form of a basketball court, they are helping to bring young people together and get them excited about sport."
The court was created as part of a collaboration between the city of Hanover, property construction company Hanova, the BasKIDball project, the VIA Linden and Serve the City Hannover associations and the SV Linden 07 club, which will play on the court.
Elastomer processing company Regupol transformed the tyres into rubber paving blocks and the court was assembled by Hanover-based company Kretschmer.
The BasKIDball project is a Germany-wide initiative that aims to use sport to break down barriers and shine a spotlight on the social side of group participation, a further sustainable benefit of the new basketball court.
Christian Kötz, member of the executive board, tyres, at Continental, added: “These tyres raced in Saudi Arabia, Greenland, and Senegal. Now, in the form of a basketball court, they are helping to bring young people together and get them excited about sport.
“We’re delighted that the Extreme E tyres are getting a second life after the end of their racing career. Circularity – in this case the reuse and continued use of tyres – is an important area, and one in which Continental is working hard.”
Extreme E stages events in remote destinations worldwide, demonstrating the flexibility of electric SUVs.
Image: Oliver Vosshage