Enso hails 35% reduction in tyre particulate matter emissions

Enso, which describes itself as “the world’s first sustainable tyre manufacturer”, reports that it has “successfully proven the benefits of specialist electric vehicle (EV) tyres” in trials conducted as part of the TfL FreightLab Innovation Challenge. According to the company, Enso tyres outperformed standard-fit tyres both in terms of reducing particulate matter (PM) emissions by up to 35 per cent and improving energy efficiency by up to 10 per cent in a 15-month trial.

Specifically, Enso reports that it analysed the tyre performance of delivery vehicle fleets from FrieghtLab innovation partners DPD and Royal Mail, including Nissan eNV200 and Peugeot Partner EV vehicles, comparing its tyres against those fitted with standard fit premium tyres and budget brands.

Enso’s news brings with it an inherent emphasis on reducing particulate emissions as well as atmospheric emissions linked to energy consumption (something that remains relevant to electric vehicles because not all electricity is generated by wind and solar power). Indeed, here’s how Enso representatives see it:

“Reducing tailpipe emissions in cities by switching to EVs is a first major step towards cleaner air. The EU commission, which regulates vehicle emission standards, estimated that chronic exposure to air pollution from fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxides from road traffic was responsible for almost one in four (23.3%) premature deaths from air pollution in the EU-27 in 2018. People living in densely populated cities, in particular those from more economically deprived areas next to major roads, are especially affected…”

The relevance of this point it also picked up by Enso as part of publicising its TfL news: “…As such, a new EURO 7 emission standard for vehicle manufacturers will be introduced from 2025 and will include a minimum standard for tyre PM emissions for the first time.”

EVs wear tyres faster than combustion engines – TfL

Furthermore, results from the FreightLab trials appear to show that EVs wear tyres at a faster rate than Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) counterparts. According to Enso representative, this mean “the focus on emissions in cities now needs to shift towards tyres debris, which have been shown to be ultimately responsible for a higher level of harmful PM emissions.”

And that’s where Enso, the world’s first B-Corp certified tyre manufacturer, comes in. Enso has developed a specially tuned EV tyre, focussed on reducing the volume of PM emissions.

Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, founder and CEO of Enso (Photo: Enso)

During the trials, ENSO tyres outperformed all other tyre brands in crucial areas including improved EV range, carbon savings due to fewer charging stops, and significantly reduced harmful PM emissions thanks to greater durability. In some instances, compared to budget tyre brands, the ENSO tyre demonstrated a 35 per cent reduction in total PM emissions.

Rikesh Shah, Head of Open Innovation, Transport for London (TfL), said: “By working with our Freightlab partners and innovators like ENSO, we’ve been able to trial a series of innovative solutions to help reduce the adverse impact of freight. One of FreightLab’s strategic aims was to find innovative solutions to minimise urban pollution by exploring new innovations. We’re pleased to see this promising new data and are excited to see how the market responds to this.”

Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, founder and CEO of Enso, said: “The results prove that innovative tyre technologies exist right now and can be a part of the solution towards realising a major goal of clean air being available to everyone. The time is now for the narrative around air pollution to shift away from tailpipe emissions. Tyre pollution is acute and under-reported, especially in urban areas, which is why we continue to work hard to progress forward with our mission, to get the entire tyre industry on board with a vision of better tyres for electric vehicles.”