Are Electric Cars Really Better For The Environment?

Note: This is the second in a weekly series of Care2 posts about alternative fuels and vehicles in honor of Earth Day. Be sure to check out first post, Top 5 All-Electric Vehicles of 2011.

Last week, I posted an article about the differences between gas-powered, hybrid, and electric cars, and the top up and coming all-electric vehicle models you should keep an eye on this year.

There were lots of great comments on the article, but a few readers posed an important question: If they’re powered by electricity produced by coal-fired or nuclear power plants, are electric cars really better for the environment?

On the following pages, I try to answer this complex question by comparing the energy demands and carbon footprints of both electric and gas-powered cars, and clarify the zero-emissions claims of many electric car makers.

Enjoy…and keep the great questions coming!

>>Up Next: What’s Really Powering That Electric Car?

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Susan C.

7:10AM PDT on Jul 25, 2011

I like to think that I research issues thoroughly so I am embarassed to admit I never thought to consider the connection of increased electric car use to an increase in coal use! We just can't let go of our beloved fossil fuels, can we?!

send a green star

jane r.

5:56PM PDT on Jun 22, 2011

thanks

Jelena L.

3:14AM PDT on Apr 23, 2011

Maria S.

6:43PM PDT on Apr 20, 2011

Merci pour l'info.

Sandy E.

12:56PM PDT on Apr 20, 2011

Wind power is NOT an answer! Changing a stright wind in to a circuler wind? BAD idea! Use the wind DON'T CUT IT!

May H.

11:53AM PDT on Apr 20, 2011

jessica r.

11:29AM PDT on Apr 19, 2011

While electric cars seem like the solution, there are definite considerations: how is the electricity produced & what in the world are we to do with the batteries when they are no longer useful. The thought of trying to recycle a billion or so batteries is not a pleasant one.
People pushing solar are forgetting about the problem of" where to put the panels". If they are in urban areas, it is a plus; if in the desert there is the problem of how to get the electricity to the grid & what are we doing to the desert environment which is quite fragile. Wind turbines are also problematic.
I'm not suggesting these aren't viable, just that we need to think through the consequences, otherwise we will have used technology to create another problem.
Biomass (from waste) seems to be extremely promising without a lot of the negatives.
But, we really need to seriously focus on conservation. That should be the lead paragraph in every article of this nature.

Faye S.

5:59AM PDT on Apr 19, 2011

Unfortunately, electric cars are not even practical in some areas. I live in the rural north-east. In the winter, temperatures go well below zero which kills battery life. Also, along witht the frigid temperatures, we are subject to frequent power failures so therefore, car can't be plugged into the grid for recharging. Looks like it's back to 'horse-power' for me.

Tam L.

1:43AM PDT on Apr 19, 2011

thanks for the article i was really wondering about this issue. Although electric car are not as green as advertised, at lest they pollute less. I also think switching to electric car will give the ability to the driver to chose the method of production of electricity in future as a result less dependence on one form of energy only. I hope in near future we will see charging stations which will be providing energies generated from planet friendly sources

Lindsey W.

8:29AM PDT on Apr 18, 2011

thank you!