Electric cars in emissions shock

Electric cars can be more polluting than their petrol-powered equivalents, according to an Auto Express investigation.

We looked at the source of energy used for charging, and found a plug-in vehicle can do greater harm to the environment than a conventional model. Our calculations show that NICE Car’s five-door Ze-O has an equivalent CO2 output of 112.1g/km. That’s more than the Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCi. And, in electric-only mode, Chevrolet’s new Volt clocks up 124.2g/km – more than a BMW 118d!

We checked the amount of energy used every kilometre by eight electric cars. Then, using Government figures for the amount of CO2 power stations emit per unit of energy, we calculated the g/km rating. The results speak for themselves.

AA president Edmund King said: “Some electric car drivers have a smug attitude. But these findings show electric cars are not the cleanest and greenest.”