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EVs are cleaner than ever, study says

Electric vehicles (EVs) don't produce any "tailpipe" emissions, but their overall environmental impact remains controversial. 
Posted on 15 March, 2018

Critics note that charging an EV from a power grid that uses fossil fuels to generate electricity still leads to carbon emissions. However, based on data from the US Environmental Protection Agency on power plant green house emissions released in February 2018, driving an EV is cleaner than gasoline for most drivers in the US.  Driving an EV in the US today is the equivalent of an 80 MPG car, much lower than any gasoline-only car available. The 80 MPG figure is sales-weighted, meaning people who have already bought electric cars are actually achieving that reduced level of greenhouse-gas emissions. In addition, the study claims that 75 per cent of Americans live in a region where driving an electric car is equivalent to driving a 50 MPG gasoline car. The difference is based on the mix of energy sources used to generate electricity. The more fossil fuels, the higher the emissions levels. Burning gasoline will never get cleaner, but the overall carbon emissions of electric cars can be reduced by eliminating fossil fuels from the grid.