London-based specialist Electric Vehicle (EV) tyre technology company ENSO has been named as one of the 15 global finalists for the prestigious environmental award, The Earthshot Prize. Launched by Prince William in 2020, The Earthshot Prize aims to discover and help scale the world’s most innovative climate and environmental solutions to protect and restore our planet.
Tyres are one of the most widely used products in the world, yet they represent a significant and overlooked challenge to the environment. With 1.5 billion vehicles globally, including EVs, all running on tyres that wear down and generate harmful particulate matter, addressing the issue of tyre pollution is of critical importance in the fight against climate change. Globally, tyres emit six million tonnes of pollution each year and more airborne particulate matter than all tailpipes combined.
ENSO is developing tyres for EVs that reduce harmful tyre pollution, whilst improving durability, performance and maintaining a cost-effective product for consumers. Following a rigorous selection process, a panel of advisors with expertise in science, conservation, innovation, investment, economics, politics, and activism selected ENSO from more than 1,100 nominations.
Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, Founder and CEO of ENSO commented: “We urgently need to talk about tyres and how they pollute our air. Tyre pollution is a pressing problem for all vehicles, including electric vehicles, so while we can’t make a tyre last forever, we can make them last a lot longer, and pollute a lot less. ENSO’s technology, values and scalable business model helps to Clean our Air, paving the way for a better future for us all. By doubling tyre durability, we can halve tyre pollution, it’s as simple as that. Thank you to The Earthshot Prize, for highlighting the impact of tyre pollution and recognising our efforts to help us all live and breathe a bit easier”.
ENSO combines technological innovation with a disruptive business model, to make its low-emission tyres accessible to all. In contrast to conventional tyres, ENSO tyres are precisely calibrated to enhance durability and reduce particulate pollution. In trials led by Transport for London, ENSO’s tyres outperformed mainstream competitor products, increasing EV range by 10% and reducing particulate matter emissions by 35%.
As the global automotive industry makes the necessary switch to EVs, the unabating problem of tyre pollution risks undermining the proven environmental benefits of the EV transition. ENSO is delivering a better alternative for existing tyre technology, engineering tyres for the specific needs of EVs, with the goal of reducing particulate emissions whilst lessening the extraction, and processing of raw materials thanks to a revolutionary tyres-as-a-service business model focussed on longevity rather than volume of sales.
As the world’s only certified B Corporation tyre manufacturer, ENSO’s ultra-energy-efficient tyres have already achieved ‘A’ energy efficiency ratings and are now helping EV taxi and delivery fleets in London reduce their environmental impact and increase their vehicle range. Eager to amplify its impact, ENSO aims to manufacture over one million low-emission tyres annually by 2026 and is expanding into North America next year.
The five Winners of this year’s Prize will be selected by Prince William and the prestigious Earthshot Prize Council, whose members include: Prince William, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, Cate Blanchett, Sir David Attenborough, Ernest Gibson, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Indra Nooyi, Jack Ma, Luisa Neubauer, Naoko Yamazaki, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Yao Ming.
The Earthshot Prize awards ceremony will take place on November 7 in Singapore. For more information about The Earthshot Prize 2023 Finalists, please visit www.earthshotprize.org
