Electric cars 'bad for environment'

ELECTRIC cars are unlikely ever to replace conventional cars and could even be worse for the environment, experts have warned.

NOT SO GREEN Experts say electric cars have limited battery life and need frequent recharging NOT SO GREEN: Experts say electric cars have limited battery life and need frequent recharging

Millions of pounds are currently being pumped into developing battery-operated vehicles as a greener alternative to petrol or diesel cars.

But engineering magazine E&T for members of the Institute of Engineering and Technology claims the switch to electric cars would not be viable because of the limited life of batteries and the need for frequent recharging.

An investigation found electric cars could be restricted to less than 100 miles while batteries would only last two years.

Peter Miller, director of electrical and electronic engineering at vehicle consultants Ricardo, said: “You could drive and then find it takes a day to recharge with a domestic electric socket.

“To get a vehicle that behaves the same way as a petrol or diesel model is not viable for the foreseeable future.”

The magazine said a battery capable of the same level of driving as a standard Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf would cost £100,000 and would weigh 1.5 tonnes.

Experts at E&T also suggested relying on electricity from non-renewable sources would even mean a greater carbon footprint than a high efficiency diesel car.

Dickson Ross, editor in chief of E&T, said: “Some of the performance improvement claims being suggested are likely to stay pure fantasy for the foreseeable future.

“While we believe electric cars overall are a good idea, particularly for short-range commutes, there’s a need for more honesty on whether they can really be the solution to our transport and environmental needs in the mid- to long-term.

“Do people really have to invest in more than one car, and all the resources they demand, to take care of commuting and family holidays? We need to encourage alternative solutions.”

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