Electric cars are a great way to reduce our carbon footprint, but French car maker Citroën believes more can be done to make vehicles sustainable. The car maker recently unveiled Oil — a concept electric car that can be reused or recycled throughout ownership. The car’s most notable difference is the use of cardboard for the roof, hood and bed panels. The company says the honeycomb-shaped cardboard — inserted between fiberglass panels — is stronger than steel. Oil’s other “green” features include lightweight seats that use 80% less material than traditional car seats and windshields and windows that are designed to repel rays, which reduces the need for air-conditioning. The doors, windows, bumper and tires are made with recycled or natural materials. The car’s stop speed is restricted to 68mph to increase efficiency. Oil weighs just 2,200 pounds, about a third of the weight of an average compact car. Thanks to its lightweight setup, it’s 40 kWh battery can last up to 248 miles between charges, and it takes just 23 minutes to charge the battery from 20% to 80%. Oil is a concept vehicle that will likely never go into production, but it’s an important reminder that automakers can do more for the environment.
