Electric cars are the best solution for reducing pollution in transport and the economy's dependence on oil, a World Wide Fund for Nature study published Wednesday showed.
Electric engines can be as many as four times more efficient than regular motors, thereby consuming much less energy, the study showed. Since electricity can be produced by different primary sources, the use of such engines would reduce the dependence on oil, the WWF said.
"We need to accelerate the commercialization of vehicles with diversified primary energy sources, high efficiency and compatibility with sustainable, renewable energy future," WWF wrote in the study. "The electrification of automotive transport offers a promising way to achieve this objective," it said.
WWF said the cost of batteries has fallen in recent years, while their performance has constantly improved, making such technology a viable alternative to regular engines.
Governments should encourage consumers to buy electric vehicles by introducing tax breaks, or give electric cars additional road privileges, such as exemption from tolls, WWF added.
Electric vehicles could soon become popular in specific sectors, such as the small vans used for city retail delivery, said one London-based car industry analyst.