Prince William set to name Mahindra as first Earthshot finalist
Prince William is set to name Indian electric auto-rickshaw manufacturer Mahindra as the first finalist for the Earthshot Prize. The company has been included in the list of 15 finalists, while the remaining contenders are planned to be named next Friday, Asharq Al-Awsat reports, citing the Daily Mail.
Electric auto-rickshaws
Tuk-tuks are widespread in Asian countries, particularly in India, where there are an estimated 10 million such vehicles on the roads. They are used because of their low operating costs and ability to travel through crowded city streets. At the same time, traditional auto-rickshaws worsen air quality in densely populated areas due to smog.
Electric tuk-tuks are equipped with a battery installed under the seat. According to the publication, 68% of new three-wheeled vehicles sold in India are electric. Mahindra has already put 400,000 such vehicles on the roads and plans to increase their number to one million by 2031.
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The prize and the company's plans
The five Earthshot Prize winners will be announced in November in Mumbai. Each of them will receive £1 million. The prize aims to find, recognize and scale solutions to restore the planet.
William called Mahindra an example of a practical solution that is already working at scale and changing how people move around cities. The company has already exported electric vehicles to Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Philippines, and is also considering expansion into the markets of Indonesia, Brazil and Africa.
