The founders of World EV Day – ABB and Green.TV – are calling on the Unicode Consortium, which governs official emoji creation, to recognize the need for an electric vehicle emoji.
The EVmoji design challenge launched by the two companies attracted submissions from children, aged 6-16, around the world. On World EV Day (9 September 2021), the design from 11-year-old Lucía, of Central Europe, was crowned the winner.
Lucía’s winning design will now be submitted to the Unicode Consortium with a request to consider it in the development of an official EV emoji.
With global EV registrations predicted to increase from about 10 million today to 145 million in 2030, World EV Day and the EVmoji challenge helped to engage with the next generation of EV drivers and shine a light on the need for a globally recognized EV emoji.
Lucía, the EVmoji challenge winner, said: “I’d love my first car to be an electric car because I know they care for the environment. I’m very excited to have participated in this contest to help create the first EV emoji!”
Judges for the EVmoji design challenge included Ade Thomas, founder, Green.TV Media; Frank Muehlon, president of ABB’s E-mobility division; and Simona de Silvestro, driver for the IndyCar Series and ABB Formula E.
“The judging panel chose Lucía’s entry from hundreds of very imaginative designs from around the world, truly putting the kids in the driving seat,” said Ade Thomas. “Her entry demonstrated flair and creativity and clearly shouts ‘electric vehicle’, even at the small size of an emoji. In conjunction with ABB, we’ll now submit the winning design to the Unicode Consortium for consideration.”
Frank Muehlon added: “We are thrilled with the response to the EVmoji design challenge and to World EV Day. Both initiatives offer a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages to learn more about electric vehicles and to generate excitement and collaboration on developments. Judging by these design submissions, the future is indeed electric.”