DPD is joining forces with tyre company ENSO to conduct full road trials of an innovative new tyre for commercial EVs.

The trial is a part of Transport for London's FreightLab Innovation Challenge, which is encouraging innovations that will tackle London's air pollution and road congestion due to increased freight movement in the Greater London area.

ENSO has developed a new tyre that increases EV-range on a single charge, while reducing both air and micro plastic tyre PM pollution. 

ENSO's EV tyres recently broke a world hypermiling record, achieving the longest distance ever driven by a Renault Zoe on a single charge.

During the trial with DPD, ENSO will compare its tyres with industry benchmarks on a fleet of DPD's Nissan e-NV200 vans, at its all-electric delivery depots - Westminster and Hyde Park - over a 9-month period.

DPD's Head of CSR, Olly Craughan, said: "Rather than just simply buying EVs, our whole approach to sustainability is about joining the dots and working with like-minded innovators to help solve the big challenges like air pollution.  

“Through our involvement in London FreightLab we got to know ENSO and understand their vision. While EVs are the future, unless we also solve the problem of tyre PM pollution, we aren't really unlocking their full potential."  

Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, ENSO Founder and CEO added: "ENSO's innovative EV tyres are designed to be EV-range-extending and PM-pollution-reducing, and through TFL's London FreightLab trial with DPD, we will demonstrate their importance in reducing air-pollution in London."