This spring, the Obama Administration directed $2.4 billion toward energy efficiency in automobiles, and specifically to aid the development of plug-in cars and the infrastructure required to keep them charged, including:
- $1.5 billion for U.S.-based manufacturers to produce batteries and components
- $500 million to help produce other electric vehicle (EV) components such as electric motors
- $400 million to demonstrate and evaluate plug-in hybrids and other electric infrastructure concepts which could include charging stations, electric rail and training for technicians to build and repair EVs
In terms of air pollution, electric cars are a brilliant alternative to diesel or gas motors. Which highlights the issue on any truly sustainable EV owner’s mind is: FUEL.
It may be very cool to drive an EV, but if your power source is electricity from coal-fired power plants, then you’re substituting one source of air pollution for another when you drive.
The sensible thing to consider is the greener alternative: SOLAR.
