More all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles would drastically reduce the number of gasoline-fueled cars, trucks and SUVs on U.S. roads (approximately 235 million), naturally making a significant cut in the amount of gasoline consumed by these vehicles everyday (about 380 million gallons). However a recent analysis in the Environmental Science and Technology journal indicates that though the use of gasoline would go down, a substantial amount of water would be needed to produce the electricity required to run electricity-powered vehicles.

Three times as much water is consumed for every mile driven by an electric vehicle that replaces a gas vehicle however researchers Carey W. King and Michael E. Webber, who conducted the analysis, say that despite this, the move towards electric vehicles isn't a negative development. They believe that as the popularity of electric vehicles increases, proper planning and preparation in the areas such as the southwest U.S., will help minimize the impact of increased water usage.

» The New York Times