Citroen is the latest recipient of an Electrifying.com Green Hero award for its Oli concept car, described by the judging panel as being an example of ‘clean sheet thinking’. 

Electric cars are brilliant at reducing local air pollution but the carbon footprint of a car starts when it is built and even earlier in its supply chain. To highlight the issue, Electrifying.com has assembled a panel of experts, including Charlie Simpson (UK Future Mobility Lead, Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility, Ernst & Young) and Dr Andy Palmer (former COO of Nissan and CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda) to assess the overall lifecycle emission of electric cars.

Those who have a strong story to tell and are going above and beyond the legal requirements - like the Citroen Oli - are given a Green Hero award.

Hailed by the experts as the most important car of the last decade, the Citroen Oli is effectively a laboratory on wheels that demonstrates sustainable and affordable alternatives to conventional automotive design. The company’s engineers have focussed on weight saving, efficiency and simplicity of materials. 

This testbed for new technology is said to show the direction Citroen is heading with its next generation of electric cars and answers many of the criticisms levelled at battery-powered cars.

Founder and CEO of Electrifying.com Ginny Buckley said: “To say that the OIi is the most important electric car we’ve seen in a decade is a big claim; but alongside a host of excessive, expensive electric cars the Oli stands out for its thoughtful approach to minimising its environmental footprint, the groundbreaking use of recycled materials and its fresh, creative design. Many manufacturers talk about sustainability but it's refreshing to see Citroen actually putting it at the heart of what it does.”

Vincent Cobée, Citroën Global CEO, commented: “Oli represents the next steps in Citroën’s e-mobility journey, showcasing just what’s possible with the clever use of materials and technology. For Citroën, the future isn’t about ever-bigger batteries, increased EV range and massive electric SUVs. Instead, we believe it’s time to think about how to do things differently, and better. We are very pleased to receive this ‘Green Hero’ award from Electrifying.com, which recognises the importance of this vision for the future.”

Citroen Oli Review

The Oli's fresh thinking will save energy over the long lifetime of the car

Electrifying.com’s experts believe this is an area the industry needs more focus on, and that it will become the subject of increased scrutiny by consumers and legislators as electric cars are increasingly becoming ‘the new norm’.

Consumers are already expressing concerns around the sustainability of EVs, and this was underlined in March 2022 in an Electrifying.com survey which found that over 50% of people who don’t yet own an electric car were concerned about the environmental impact of how they are manufactured. Separately, a third of people surveyed told us that the environmental benefits of electric cars were driving their switch.

More details of the award and our criteria can be found here. 

The Oli's long life and low consumption points to a more sustainable future