  Many perceive electric vehicles (EVs) to be eco-environmentally sustainable
because they are free of emissions of toxic and greenhouse gases to the
environment. However, few have questioned the sustainability of the electric
power required to drive these vehicles. This paper presents an in-depth study
that indicates that massive infusion of EVs to our society in a short time span
will likely create a colossal demand for additional electric power generation
much beyond what the US electric power generating industry can provide with its
current generating capacity. Additionally, such demand would result in much
adverse environmental consequences if the current technology of electric power
generation by predominant fossil fuels continues. Other rarely accounted facts
on environmental impacts by EVs are the substantial electric energy required to
produce batteries that drive EVs, and the negative consequences relating to the
recycling of spent batteries.

Systems and Control