Prince William has announced that manufacturers of electric tuk-tuks are among the first finalists for his Earthshot Prize. Mahindra, India's largest producer of electric autorickshaws, is one of 15 contenders that have been shortlisted, with the remaining finalists to be revealed next week.
The Earthshot Prize aims to find, celebrate, and scale solutions to repair the planet, with five winners set to receive £1 million each in Mumbai in November.
Tuk-tuks are a common mode of transport across Asia, with an estimated ten million operating in India alone. While they offer low running costs and maneuverability in crowded urban environments, they have also contributed to significant air pollution. The emergence of electric versions, powered by batteries, is changing this landscape, with electric three-wheelers accounting for 68% of new sales in India.
Prince William, who himself drives an electric vehicle, has highlighted Mahindra's work as a "great example" of the Earthshot Prize's mission. "Seeing solutions like this growing in India gives me real optimism," he stated, according to The Times. He noted that Mahindra offers a practical solution that is already operating at scale and transforming urban transportation.
Mahindra has already deployed 400,000 electric vehicles and aims to reach one million by 2031, with plans for global expansion into markets including Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, and Africa.
Suman Mishra, chief executive of Mahindra Last Mile Mobility, commented that "When the right choice for the climate is also the right economic choice for the customer then scale is inevitable." The company estimates that its electric autorickshaws have already prevented 180,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to planting 8.3 million trees.
This nomination marks a shift for the Earthshot Prize, which previously focused more on startups and charities. Mahindra, founded in 1945, is a large, established company ranked as the 15th most valuable vehicle manufacturer globally, with a valuation of approximately £29 billion.
Jason Knauf, chief executive of Earthshot, emphasized the importance of large corporations like Mahindra in driving environmental progress. He also noted India's pivotal role in the global effort to combat climate change, suggesting that the most significant advancements will emerge from the country.