Electric cars: For better or for worse…?

What's will be the least harmful for the environment in the long run - electric cars, hybrids or the traditional IC-engined car? The debate continues...

According to the findings of a new research report, a widespread switch to electric cars may not be such a good thing after all. In fact, rather than result in a reduction in CO2 emissions and dependence on oil, such a move might actually trigger off a bigger adverse impact on the environment.

The report, conducted by the Environmental Transport Association (ETA), finds that whether electric cars are beneficial or not will depend on how electricity (to feed these cars) is generated. For example, if the vast majority of electric cars in the world end up depending on electricity generated from burning coal, they would definitely have an adverse impact upon the environment.

In terms of prices, too, the report says that EVs will not be able to compete with conventional, IC-engined cars for the next 20-30 years! Also, low running costs for electric vehicles is likely to lead to significantly increased demand for such cars, making it necessary for governments to increase taxation on the usage of electricity.

Taking the argument further, the report says that even if countries were to develop the capacity and the basic infrastructure to meet the needs of millions of electric cars, the new demand patterns they will create will almost definitely mean greater use of coal and nuclear power to generate electricity, which will again be harmful in the long run.

The report, which suggests that EVs will form no more than 25% of all vehicles sold even by the year 2050, says that the best bet for saving the planet is to have ever more stringent emissions norms in place for IC-engined cars, and higher taxes on fuel, which will curb the usage of personal cars.