Replacing hardware-based TPMS with software-only solutions can significantly reduce electronic waste in the automotive industry. Environmental cost of traditional sensors and how indirect TPMS offers a sustainable alternative without sacrificing safety or compliance.
Automotive manufacturing is under increasing scrutiny for its environmental impact, not only from tailpipe emissions but from the entire product lifecycle. One overlooked contributor to electronic waste is the hardware used in traditional direct TPMS. These systems rely on four individual wheel sensors, each containing a non-replaceable battery. When the battery runs out (typically after five to seven years) the entire sensor becomes scrap. Multiply that across millions of vehicles, and you have a substantial and recurring stream of e-waste entering the system every year.
Indirect TPMS, such as NIRA’s Tire Pressure Indicator (TPI), uses the vehicle’s existing sensors to monitor tire pressure. This software-only approach removes the need for additional hardware entirely — meaning no batteries to dispose of and no bulky sensor components destined for landfill. From a sustainability standpoint, this is a double win: Reduced Material Use with no extra plastics, metals, or electronics, and a Lower Carbon Footprint thanks to fewer components to manufacture, ship, and install.
If just an additional 10% of the world's annual light vehicle production switched to iTPMS, it could prevent millions of discarded TPMS sensors from entering the waste stream each year. With global car production reaching 75.5 million units in 2024, this 10% shift would represent approximately 7.5 million vehicles annually, translating to 30 million fewer physical sensors requiring manufacturing, installation, and eventual disposal.
This environmental opportunity isn't theoretical—it's built on proven technology. NIRA Dynamics recognized the e-waste challenge early, beginning our iTPMS journey together with Audi in 2005/2006. This pioneering work has demonstrated that software-based tire pressure monitoring isn't just viable. It's superior in many ways.
The environmental benefit extends far beyond waste reduction. Each traditional TPMS sensor contains lithium batteries, electronic circuits, and specialized materials including rare earth metals. Implementing iTPMS can substantially reduce:
NIRA's approach to iTPMS demonstrates how leveraging existing vehicle infrastructure (wheel speed sensors, ABS systems) creates cascading environmental benefits. Rather than adding hardware, the technology transforms existing data into actionable tire pressure insights. Well-maintained tire pressure through reliable monitoring can improve fuel efficiency by up to 3%, creating multiplier effects across millions of vehicles.
With nearly 20 years of development and refinement, iTPMS technology has evolved from early implementations to sophisticated algorithms compatible with modern software-defined vehicles.
The maintenance lifecycle advantages compound these benefits: no sensor handling during tire service, no specialized calibration requirements, and no hazardous waste disposal protocols. As industry leaders who identified this opportunity in the mid-2000s have demonstrated, sensor-free monitoring represents both environmental responsibility and superior long-term performance.
OEMs worldwide are committing to ambitious sustainability targets, from carbon neutrality to circular economy initiatives. By adopting iTPMS, manufacturers can make immediate, measurable progress toward these goals while also benefiting from cost savings and streamlined operations. And they can do it with proven technology with over 20 years on the market with leading OEM:s and Tier1:s.
Crucially, going green doesn’t mean lowering standards. NIRA’s TPI meets all major TPMS regulations globally, offering the same performance as hardware-based systems.