Electricity-powered cars will save from global warming

SMALL IS BIG: WWF says one solution to climate change lies in electricity-powered vehicles.

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New Delhi: India's first electric car — Reva — has caught the attention of environmentalists worldwide. It's rated as the world's best-selling battery electric car.

According to World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) report, its electricity-powered cars like Reva that would cut down carbon emissions and decrease global warming.

Senior Energy Business and Policy Analyst WWF, Garry Kendall says, "Obviously we need to give priority to the development of public transport and other modes of mobility. We also need to accelerate the development of vehicles powered by electricity."

Electricity fueled cars not only emit 25 per cent less emissions but are also thrice more efficient than a gasoline or a diesel vehicle.

The most efficient are plug-in hybrid electric cars but the Indian market is still apprehensive about them.

Director General Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, Dilip Chenoy says, "If you look at battery costs and current battery replacement technology, it's a great challenge. The second challenge is for electric vehicles is that we don't have recharging points."

However, big question is that won't these electric cars actually generate more carbon emissions since India's power generation is largely based on coal?

WWF Climate Change and Energy Programme, Sirish Sinha says, "Actually carbon intensities of vehicles running on diesel is going to go up, while the carbon intensity of power generation will go down. So the electric cars won't have an effect as far as emissions are concerned."

It is estimated that consumption of car fuel will increase to one 1000 barrels of crude oil per second, this year. While electricity can be a way out of this oil trap in future, the best solution still remains the same — reduce the car use.