Today, Prince William visited 2023 Earthshot Prize Finalist, ENSO, as they announced a pioneering new strategic partnership with Uber across the UK and USA.
The London-based start-up, a Finalist in the 2023 Clean Our Air category, creates tyres specifically designed for electric vehicles that are more sustainable and reduce harmful tyre pollution, leading to cleaner air for everyone.
With 1.5 billion vehicles on the road across the globe, the impact of tyres on air pollution is hugely significant. Their constant friction on roads releases harmful particulate matter, which results in invisible air pollution that’s especially dangerous in cities.
In contrast to conventional tyres, ENSO’s low-emission tyres are precisely calibrated to enhance durability and reduce particulate pollution by 35%.
Prince William visits 2023, Earthshot Prize Finalist, ENSO
Prince William speaks with Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, Founder and CEO, ENSO
Prince William shown tyre pollutants by Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, ENSO
Prince William helps to fit an ENSO tyre on an electric vehicle
Prince William meets the ENSO team
During the visit, Prince William met with Founder and CEO of ENSO, Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, and heard how the business has developed and scaled since he last visited in October 2023. The Prince learned about the technology behind their sustainable tyres and the real-life impact it has on pollution levels around the world.
His Royal Highness then joined a discussion about the new strategic partnership between Uber and Earthshot Finalist ENSO, and its potential impact, with Hannah Jones, CEO of The Earthshot Prize and Jill Hazelbaker, Uber Chief Marketing Officer and SVP Communications and Public Policy.
Finally, before departing, Prince William helped to fit an ENSO tyre on an electric vehicle.
Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, Founder and CEO, ENSO
Since becoming a Finalist, ENSO has seen its visibility grow considerably and has been working with The Earthshot Prize and its partners to develop plans for expansion into the US.
ENSO announced in June that it is developing a $500 million carbon-neutral tyre factory in the US as part of its expansion. ENSO’s US factory will be operational by 2027, directly employing over 600 people and producing more than five million EV tyres per year.
London is Uber’s global capital for electrification where almost 30% of Uber’s miles are fully electric. The company has built up a £145 million Clean Air Fund to help drivers go electric in the capital and drivers today are making the switch five times faster than the average motorist. Alongside this, Uber has set a goal of becoming a zero-emissions platform globally by 2040 and in North America and Europe by 2030.
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Learn more about ENSO’s ultra-efficient tyres that extend EV range and reduce tyre pollution.
