'IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE LOTS OF BOOKS FOR THE APOCALYPSE. YOO CAN ALWAYS BURN THEM FOR HEAT, ASSUMING YOU HAVE A LIGHTER.'

摘要

Bill Freeiand of Littleton, New Hampshire, was among the readers questioning the environmental benefit of electric cars ("Tested & Rated: Electric Cars 2010," issue 18.10), "When you factor in the emissions generated by the electricity they use, It makes what you're calling a 'transformative' moment seem just a hyped exaggeration," Free-land wrote. "There is no free ride for any automotive technology based on fossil fuels, whether the power comes from an oil refinery or a power plant." We're familiar with this argument, and while it's compelling, it's also been dis-proven: A study from the Electric Power Research Institute and the National Resources Defense Council concluded that widespread adoption of plug-in hybrid vehicles would reduce green-house gas emissions between 40 and 65 percent over conventional cars. Ourenthusiasm remains unbridled.