Contrary to the popular myth concerning the green credentials of the electric car, new research claims that greater use of electric cars will have the effect of increasing Britain’s CO2 level of emissions instead of cutting them. They also draw into question the governments 250 million incentive scheme intended to encourage take up of electric cars. The government will pay anyone buying an electric car a sweetener of £5,000 towards the cost.

They point to the fact that much of the country’s electricity is still being produced by burning fossil fuels such as coal and gas and that when this is transported via the national grid to cars and stored in batteries there is a significant loss of power due to system leakage.

The group Transport Watch, who gathered the information, claim that when all the factors relating to the production and delivery of electricity are taken into account then electric cars emit almost twice as much CO2 as diesel driven cars. A report says, “We conclude that the notion that electric cars will reduce emissions is a faction.”

It was calculated that of the energy produced at coal and oil burning power stations, only about 24% actually reaches the vehicle after drainage and loss are taken into account. This compares poorly with a modern diesel engine, which scores 45% efficiency. Read the rest of this entry »