Emissions and hybrid cars

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Will hybrid cars actually reduce carbon emissions? The Congressional Research Service [CRS] says:

“Only if the power plants they get electricity from produce little if any carbon. But since most U.S. electricity production is not carbon-free, the CRS observes that the “widespread adoption of plug-in hybrid vehicles through 2030 may have only a small effect on, and might actually increase, net CO2 emissions.” **

It is widely know that about 50 per cent of US electricity comes from coal fired power plants. We also know that it takes around 20 years for environmentally friend cars to pay for themselves. So, ask yourself, how many 20 year old every day cars do we see on the road today?

Source: The Futility of Hybrid Cars by Steven Milloy, Junk Science. February 5, 2009 **

First posted in 2009