Greener cars could slash US pollution by 2050: Study

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Greener cars that use alternative fuels could help the United States (US) slash its greenhouse gas emissions from everyday driving a full 80 percent by 2050, according to a scientific study out on Monday.

That could lead to a more than 13 per cent cut in overall US pollution into the atmosphere, with consumer-driven cars and small trucks currently responsible for 17 per cent of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions, said the study.

However, sticker shock could turn off many consumers, with alternative fuel vehicles costing several thousand dollars more than today's prices.

Still, the long-term benefits would outweigh the early costs, said the report by the National Academy of Sciences, which called for subsidies and tax incentives to ease the burden on consumers who want to drive green.