Widely recognised as the auto industry’s most important environmental accolade, the 2014 Green Car of the Year Award celebrated its 10th anniversary at this year’s LA Auto Show, with the BMW i3 walking away with the top honour.

Innovative electric car named 2014 Green Car of the Year Award

This is the first time in the history of the award, when an electric car has won the award. Offering 126 kW electric motor and a range of 130-160km on a single charge, BMW’s first plug-in electric vehicle surpassed the other finalists which included the Chevrolet Impala Bi-Fuel; the Audi A3 TDI; the Honda Fit; and the Volkswagen Golf.

The judging process considers all vehicles, fuels, and technologies, also that vehicles are all-new, or in the early stages of their model lifecycle, and must be on sale by January 1 of the award year. In addition, availability and market significance are taken into consideration in order to ensure that models have the potential to make a real impact on improving air quality, reducing greenhouse gases, and promoting transportation efficiency.

According to a statement issued by the publisher of the Green Car Journal, Rog Cogan, BMW’s entire strategy around sustainable transportation helped gear the i3 to its win. It’s also said the model won because of its zero emissions at the point of use, and also because of the high percentage of sustainably produced materials used in the car’s construction, such as its carbon fibre reinforced plastic body.

“BMW’s i3 is a milestone vehicle in many respects and illustrates the automaker’s expansive vision of future motoring,” says Cogan in a statement. “It is purposefully designed with a small environmental footprint and zero emissions, offering the best features of an electric vehicle with the functionality of an available on-board engine-generator that nearly doubles its battery electric range.”

While the i3 is designed as a battery electric car, its optional REx Petrol engine-generator enables extended driving range with electricity created on board easing potential range anxiety, however, it does not act as a replacement for electric power. The vehicle can hit 100km/h in just 7.2 seconds and thanks to a very low centre of gravity offers the same driving dynamics as BMW’s petrol powered cars.

As finalists for 2014 Green Car of the Year Award, the Audi A3 TDI, BMW i3, Chevrolet Impala Bi-Fuel, Honda Fit, and Volkswagen Golf are additionally honoured with Green Car Journal’s 2014 Green Car Product of Excellence.