Should people switch to electric cars for the environment?

Encyclopedia of Opinion

Question: Should people switch to electric cars for the environment?
Position‹2 of 2: No, people should not switch to electric cars
Argument1 of 2›: Electricity requires fossil fuels

Fossil fuels are the biggest sources of fuel in the world. They power vehicles, which are needed for transportation. They also power electricity.

The argument

Although electric cars don’t directly consume fossil fuels, they consume it indirectly. Electricity comes from the processing of fossil fuels in power plants. Having electric cars will increase the need for electricity, which means more fossil fuels will be burned. In the United Kingdom it’s estimated that in 15 years, one electric car will increase the need for electricity by 3%. Since there’s fossil fuels still being used, electric cars shouldn’t replace regular cars.

Premises

[P1]Electric cars don't burn fossil fuels directly but consume them indirectly, since their electricity is generated by processing fossil fuels in power plants. [P2] More electric cars means more demand for electricity—an estimated 3% rise in the UK within 15 years from a single car's worth—so more fossil fuels would be burned. [C] Therefore, because electricity still requires fossil fuels, people should not switch to electric cars.

Counter-arguments

Although electricity is made by the burning of fossil fuels, moving the concentration of fossil fuels will fix a part of the problem. If electric cars don’t produce carbon emissions, then scientists can focus on how to replace fossil fuel burning plants. It’s best to just eliminate fossil fuel burning cars as soon as possible.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P4] Electricity could be instead sourced from eco-friendly sources, rather than fossil fuel.