In good news for environmentalists, researchers at the University of Leeds have assessed the total cost of ownership (TCO) of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) and Battery Electric vehicles (BEV) in three countries (the UK, USA, and Japan) between 1997–2015. The study found, that thanks to subsidies, BEVs were able to reach cost parity with other vehicles in all three countries, however plug-in hybrids remain behind the curve in comparison to ICEs. The electrification of the transport sector reduces national oil dependency, while enabling more renewable energy generation. Urban air pollution is also a serious concern for residents in many cities, with poor air quality understood to claim the lives of over 7m people annually worldwide. The batteries found in…