Electric cars are better for environment than petrol or diesel, study concludes

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Scientists have debunked the myth that electric cars are as bad for the environment as their petrol guzzling counterparts.

A new study has revealed that electric vehicles produce around a third less emissions in their lifetime - despite the environmental impact of producing them and generating the electricity to power them.

In countries such as Sweden and France, where a large portion of power comes from renewable sources and nuclear, electric cars are putting out around 70 per cent less greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. But even in countries where energy comes from fossil fuels, they are still less polluting.

In fact, the only places where electric cars don’t beat fossil fuelled vehicles are where power comes mainly from coal, such as Poland and India.

Clear choice to switch

Overall, drivers in 95 per cent of the world's highest transport and heating demand countries can cut their carbon footprint by switching, according to the study.

Researchers in the UK and Netherlands also found that household electric heat pumps, which draw heat from the ground and air, could help cut emissions almost everywhere.