William lends mechanics a hand as he hails Earthshot finalist’s eco-tyres

The Prince of Wales fitted a car with an eco-tyre made by 1 of the finalists from his Earthshot Prize and was dubbed a “professional” for his efforts.

William got to grips with the 17-inch alloy instrumentality fitted with a tyre made by ENSO, a start-up shortlisted past twelvemonth successful the Clean Our Air class of William’s planetary biology competition.

The fledging institution has announced a three-year concern with transportation and ride-hailing work Uber, thousands of drivers successful the UK and US volition beryllium offered entree to specially discounted ENSO tyres via a dedicated buyers’ club.

William seemed impressed by the improvement and erstwhile helium visited ENSO astatine their westbound London location adjacent Brentford said: “What fantastic advancement you’ve made – you’re going higher and higher.”

In a nutshell, Prince William is efficaciously the cheerleader for the planet, wherever he's cheering america connected to marque these things work, present and interaction astatine scale

Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, ENSO

The company’s laminitis Gunnlaugur Erlendsson spoke astir plans to unfastened a tyre mill successful the US and the backing they secured aft the Earthshot prize-giving ceremonial hosted successful Singapore successful 2023.

He said: “So each these things bring unneurotic the capital, the solution and the standard to marque things hap rapidly due to the fact that we’re moving retired of clip to woody with these problems connected this satellite – we can’t hold forever.

“In a nutshell, Prince William is efficaciously the cheerleader for the planet, wherever he’s cheering america connected to marque these things work, present and interaction astatine scale.”

Tyres emit six cardinal tonnes of contamination astir the satellite each year, with their changeless friction connected the roads releasing harmful invisible micro-pollutants, which summation the hazard of bosom disease, asthma and different conditions.

ENSO has created a much efficient, debased emanation tyre for electrical vehicles which reduces particle contamination by 35% and is calibrated to amended durability.

William gave income technician Andrew Bernard a manus successful fitting the instrumentality of an electrical Kia Niro car that is fashionable with Uber drivers.

He commented helium had changed a fewer wheels earlier and seemed adept astatine handling the powerfulness drill to screw connected the instrumentality nuts, and Mr Bernard joked: “You got immoderate spare time, travel and enactment for us.”

Mr Erlendsson said of his efforts: “He was similar a professional.”

Uber has besides go a founding spouse of William’s Earthshot Prize, which aims to recognise and standard up solutions to “repair” the planet, and volition nominate clime solution start-ups for the yearly award.

Almost 30% of Uber miles successful London are present afloat electric, Uber said arsenic it hailed the metropolis arsenic its worldwide “capital of electrification”.

Jill Hazelbaker, Uber main selling officer, said: “We’re thrilled to enactment with ENSO to assistance them turn portion making it easier for Uber drivers to spell electrical astir the world.”