Electric Vehicles : How Clean Are They?

The government of India, as a part of its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and also in view of the recurring episodes of high air pollution in major cities, has an ambitious plan to shift from petrol/diesel vehicles to electric vehicles for both public and private use by 2030. A similar trend is seen in many other countries of Europe, USA, Germany, etc. What then is an electric vehicle and how clean is it?
  An electric car looks almost like a petrol or diesel car. However, if you observe more closely, you will find that while driving, the electric car produces much less noise and more importantly does not produce tailpipe emission. In fact, it does not have a tailpipe at all.
  Under the bonnet you will find some more tell-tale signs: instead of a huge internal combustion engine with its fuel lines, exhaust pipes, coolant hoses and intake manifold, all you see is an electric motor and its controller. Then there is no petrol tank at the back. It is replaced by a traction battery pack under the passenger seat