Plug-in Electric Cars Can Lower Global Warming Emissions, Oil Consumption and Unhealthy Air Pollution

AUSTIN – Increasing America’s use of plug-in electric and plug in hybrid cars would dramatically reduce emissions that cause global warming and air pollution and would curb our dependence on oil, according to a new white paper released today by Environment Texas. The release comes as electric vehicles are being profiled in an unprecedented way this week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.  

“With more Americans focused on the environmental and economic consequences of our oil dependence, carmakers are scrambling to offer customers the cleanest, most fuel efficient cars”, said Luke Metzger, Director of Environment Texas. “Dramatically ramping up electric vehicles can bolster America’s efforts to wean ourselves off of oil and to reduce pollution that causes global warming.”    

Plug-in Cars: Powering America Toward a Cleaner Future answers many questions about plug-in vehicles and lays out a strategy for how to increase the number of electric vehicles on the road. It highlights data from existing research to show that electric vehicles can help to improve Americans’ standards of living. The key points of the paper include the following:

• Powering a car on electricity would result in 93 percent less smog-forming volatile organic compounds and 31 percent less nitrogen oxide emissions than powering a car on gasoline. An electric car fueled by unused capacity in the current electric system would emit 27 percent less global warming pollution than a car fueled by gasoline

• Operating costs of plug-in cars are likely to be significantly lower than those of gasoline-powered cars. Electricity costs three to five cents per mile with average electric rates, or the equivalent of $0.75 to $1.25 per gallon of gasoline.

• Plug-in hybrids that have been converted from conventional hybrids can achieve 100 miles per gallon or more. Electric cars that can go over 200 miles on one charge are being sold in the United States today. Most plug-in cars can charge in a normal wall outlet found in many home garages, and rapid chargers have been developed that can fill a 100-mile battery in under 30 minutes.

 “Austin Energy is preparing to pilot several of the key recommendations outlined in this excellent report,” said Roger Duncan, Austin Energy General Manager. “We will be installing public charging stations, considering new voucher programs to set up charging in homes and partnering with local dealerships in anticipation of possibly up to 200,000 PEV light duty vehicles in the Austin area by 2020.”

“Environment Texas urges our state and local officials to fully harness the power of plug-ins by setting clean car standards, offering financial incentives for buyers of plug-in vehicles, creating a low-carbon fuel standard that allows plug-ins to contribute to lowering global warming emissions, promoting renewable energy and adopting ‘smart grid’ technologies that would allow plug-ins to help stabilize the electric grid,” said Metzger. “We also urge the Senate to pass a comprehensive energy and global warming bill that, among other key steps, encourages the development and deployment of plug-in hybrids and other clean energy technologies.”