ENSO and HIVED partner to trial sustainable tyres for electric delivery vehicles
London-based parcel delivery network, HIVED, and tyre technology company, ENSO, have joined forces in a trial of ENSO's sustainable tyres on HIVED's electric delivery vehicles.
HIVED, founded by Murvah Iqbal and Mathias Kreiger in 2021, has been at the forefront of tackling clean air issues with their 100% electric fleet of vehicles, which cater to major brands such as ASOS, Zara, and Karen Millen in Greater London. The company's mission to decarbonise parcel delivery has resulted in a significant reduction of emissions per parcel, up to 76% compared to traditional delivery methods. Additionally, HIVED offers consumers a more reliable and modern delivery experience.
However, the concern of particulate pollution persists with any vehicle. While electric vehicles (EVs) effectively reduce tailpipe emissions, tyre pollution continues to be an issue. According to the European Council Impact Assessment, non-exhaust emissions are predicted to contribute up to 90% of all particles emitted by road transport by 2050.
To combat this problem, HIVED and ENSO have initiated a trial that will equip six vans from HIVED's electric fleet with ENSO's specially designed tyres for electric vehicles. This trial is set to span over three months and aims to assess the performance and sustainability of ENSO's latest generation of tyres in real-world conditions.
ENSO is known for its tyre technology and recently entered the London electric taxi market. The tyre technology not only reduces harmful tyre pollution but also enhances tyre durability and overall performance. The company has garnered recognition for its efforts and is among the global finalists for the prestigious environmental award, The Earthshot Prize, founded by Prince William.
In trials conducted by Transport for London (TfL) it has shown the superior performance of ENSO's tyres compared to mainstream competitor products. These trials demonstrated an increase in the range of electric vehicles by up to 10% and a reduction in particulate matter emissions by up to 35%. The ongoing trial led by HIVED will evaluate ENSO's latest generation of tyres using the same metrics, providing valuable insight into their real-world effectiveness.
Gemma Neal, Head of Sustainability at HIVED, shared: "ENSO's mission fits right alongside our sustainability ethos and we're excited to be working with their team on this trial. Particulate pollution has, until now, been an inevitable part of having vehicles on the road, but finding a solution to cut this pollution is crucial. This trial with ENSO is part of a wider strategy at HIVED to continually stay on the cutting edge of innovation and sustainability in transport, and we're thrilled to put it into action.''
Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, ENSO founder, added: “We’re delighted to be joining forces with HIVED, who share our goal of improving air quality in our cities. Electric vehicles are a vital solution in combating climate change and eliminating harmful exhaust pipe emissions. But all vehicles, including electric ones, run on tyres that wear down and generate air pollution. Conducting real-world trials with HIVED will further demonstrate the capability of new tyre technology from ENSO to reduce the harm caused by tyre dust, improve the air we breathe, and tackle a major source of microplastic pollution.”
