Electric car debate goes on

Autonomous vehicles have been hyped as the answer to the increasingly worrying problem of air pollution caused by cars.

Electric cars could help reduce emissions.

Gases released by cars are thought to be one of the most destructive when it comes to the effect on the environment. Cities suffer the worst pollution as they have the most amounts of cars travelling through them, as well as having the highest levels of traffic.

Although electric cars could help reduce emissions, and consequently limit a number of health problems in the country, the government continues to debate them because of the cost of manufacturing, buying and running the cars.

The long term spells positive things for the cost of electric cars, however in the short term the expenditure is huge.

Buying a new electric vehicle costs a whopping £20,000 - a figure virtually impossible for the average household to stretch to given the current economic climate.

Running the car is also relatively expensive.

"One driver said it cost him £1 a day to do 35 miles," says Tom Edwards, the transport correspondent for the BBC.

Environmental activists fear that cost is overtaking green issues in the debate over electric cars.

They feel that although cost is important, the impact on the environmental should take priority.

People should consider reducing other expenditures in order to factor in the cost of electric cars to avoid further damage to the environment.

Pollution from cars can lead to serious health problems such as asthma and heart disease, but these are not the only suspected illnesses.

"Our findings suggest that there are large and previously unappreciated public health consequences of air pollution", said Rob McConnell, professor of preventive medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC.

Electric cars could be absolutely vital in preventing premature deaths to those who live in cities.