DETROIT, USA - Electric vehicles in the US save their owners more 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 (UCS) said in a report.
Don Anair, a UCS senior engineer, said: "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."
The 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, owners of electric vehicles can save $750 to $1200 (R5968 - R9550) a year based on 17 702km of driving, compared to drivers of a petrol-powered vehicle that gets 11.4km/l at $3.50 per gallon (R7.3 per litre).
For every 50c rise in the price of fuel, an EV driver can save an extra R1591 annually, the report said.
Don Anair, a UCS senior engineer, said: "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."
The 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, owners of electric vehicles can save $750 to $1200 (R5968 - R9550) a year based on 17 702km of driving, compared to drivers of a petrol-powered vehicle that gets 11.4km/l at $3.50 per gallon (R7.3 per litre).
For every 50c rise in the price of fuel, an EV driver can save an extra R1591 annually, the report said.