Electric cars cheaper to run, less polluting: Report

Electric vehicles in the United States save money on fuel and are less polluting than most gasoline-powered vehicles, even in places where electricity is made by burning coal, the Union of Concerned Scientists said in a report released on Monday.

"Drivers should feel confident that owning an electric vehicle is a good choice for reducing global warming pollution, cutting fuel costs, and slashing oil consumption," said Don Anair, a senior engineer on UCS's clean vehicles program.

UCS said the study is the first to analyze emissions from vehicles charged on a power grid of electricity made from fuels such as coal and natural gas.

According to the report, written by Anair, owners of electric vehicles can save USD 750 to USD 1,200 a year based on 11,000 miles of driving, compared to drivers of a gasoline-powered vehicle that gets 27 miles per gallon at USD 3.50 per gallon.

For every 50 cent rise in the price of a gallon of gasoline, an EV driver can save an extra USD 200 annually, the report said.