Carbon-fiber EV wheels will be lighter, quieter, and more efficient

Enlarge / These carbon-fiber wheels have completed the molding process. (credit: Carbon Revolution)

You might have noticed that car wheels have gotten pretty large over the last few years. Designers love putting hefty wheels on cars, particularly big trucks and SUVs, because they help make big vehicles look smaller. Expect the trend to stick around as electric vehicles proliferate-big wheels are particularly effective at helping hide the extra height of the slab of lithium-ion cells between the axles.

The trouble is, big wheels might look good, but that aesthetic comes with a cost. A larger wheel is heavier, and it's the very worst place to add pounds if you're concerned about handling, since it is unsprung mass. This is why some wheels are made out of aluminum alloy instead of pressed steel, but even aluminum wheels weigh a lot if they're 22 inches in diameter-or bigger.

Enter Carbon Revolution and its carbon-fiber wheels, stage left.

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