Electric cars cheaper to run and less polluting

DETROIT: Electric vehicles in the United States save money on fuel and are less polluting than most petrol-powered vehicles, even in places where electricity is made by burning coal, the Union of Concerned Scientists said in a report released on Monday.

"Drivers should feel confident that owning an electric vehicle is a good choice for reducing global warming pollution, cutting fuel costs, and slashing oil consumption," said Don Anair, a senior engineer on UCS's clean vehicles programme. 

UCS said the study is the first to analyse emissions from vehicles charged on a power grid of electricity made from fuels such as coal and natural gas.

According to the report, written by Anair, owners of electric vehicles can save US$750 to US$1,200 (RM2,300 to RM3,700) a year based on 17,700km of driving, compared to drivers of a petrol-powered vehicle that gets 27 mpg (8.7 l/100km) at US$3.50 (RM10) per gallon.

For every 50 cent (RM1.50)  rise in the price of a gallon of petrol, an EV driver can save an extra US$200 (RM613) annually, the report said.
 -Reuters