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[[Image:5667ruy.jpg|right|thumb|Venturi Fetish, a limited production electric car capable of reaching 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds]]

[[Image:5667ruy.jpg|right|thumb|Venturi Fetish, a limited production electric car capable of reaching 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds]]

An '''electric car''' is a type of [[car]] that runs on [[electricity]]. Because it runs on electricity it is a zero emission car, a car that doesn't produce [[pollution]] at the point of use. It is probable that some type of [[fossil fuel]] would have been used to generate the electricity in the first place, in some cases all the electric car really does is move the pollution somewhere else.

An '''electric car''' is a type of [[car]] that runs on [[electricity]]. Because it runs on electricity it is a zero emission car, a car that doesn't produce [[pollution]] at the point of use. It is probable that some type of [[fossil fuel]] would have been used to generate the electricity in the first place, in some cases all the electric car really does is move the pollution somewhere else.

However, due to the poor efficiency of small internal cumbustion engines and the relatively high efficiency of power generating stations, electric cars produce less polution and consume less fuel even when run entirely on fossil-fuel based power.

 

Zero emissions sounds wonderful but it's not entirely true. While electric cars typically emit less CO₂, over its lifetime a Tesla S will emit about 13 tonnes of CO₂.  The production of its batteries alone will emit 14 tonnes. <ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2016/04/06/dont-be-fooled---elon-musks-electric-cars-arent-about-to-save-th/ Don't be fooled - Elon Musk's electric cars aren't about to save the planet, The Telegraphe, April 6, 2016]</ref>

 

Coal power still accounts for 39% of America's electricity power. This means that electric vehicles will still be respinsible for producing CO₂. A North Carolina State University study showed that a nation full of electric cars powered will make no ecological difference. <ref>[http://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/tesla-the-coal-powered-car-wont-be-saving-the-world/ Tesla, The Coal-Powered Car, Won’t Be Saving The World, Investors.com, April 4, 2016]</ref> This is due in part to its production costs, rare metal mining.

 

The disposal of batteries is also a concern. Dead ones can't be tossed in a landfill and few companies will recycle lithium batteries and electric cars have giant batteries.

 

 

 

[[Category:Cars]]

[[Category:Cars]]