Electric Cars & Their Effect on the Environment

Electric Car

In terms of reducing pollution, electric cars have some significant advantages over their gasoline counterparts. However, there remain drawbacks to large adoption of electric vehicles as of 2010. Chief among them are battery storage, travel distance and time needed for recharging.

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Tailpipe Emissions
- Highway Emissions
  
  Electric vehicles do not have any tailpipe emissions. Since they're powered by batteries, there is no combustion and no related pollution.
Electric Cars Can Be Non-Polluting
- The only emissions related to an electric vehicle come from its battery charging source. So, if you buy wind energy or solar power for your home and charge an electric vehicle there, then its power source is non-polluting.
Recharging With Non-Renewables
- Even if an electric vehicle is recharged with power from a non-renewable source such as a coal- or gas-fired power plant, it's still cleaner than powering your vehicle with gas.
Other Reduced Oil Use
- Since an electric motor has fewer moving parts, its use of lubricants and certain other toxic liquids and materials is greatly reduced.
Electric Vehicle Batteries
- Modern electric vehicle batteries are usually nickel metal hydride-based, which are much lighter and environmentally safer than the lead-acid batteries used in gasoline-powered cars.
Emerging Battery Technologies
- Car companies are investing millions into developing new battery technologies, including lithium batteries, which are more environmentally friendly than nickel metal-hydride batteries.

Photo Credit futuristic electric car image by Michael Shake from Fotolia.com major traffic jam 2 image by Aaron Kohr from Fotolia.com

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100001798943053 Feb 03, 2012
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Electric Cars & Their Effect on the Environment

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Tailpipe Emissions

Electric Cars Can Be Non-Polluting

Recharging With Non-Renewables

Other Reduced Oil Use

Electric Vehicle Batteries

Emerging Battery Technologies

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