With advances in battery technology, electric cars allow automakers to

Question

With advances in battery technology, electric cars allow automakers to tout that these vehicles produce none of the harmful emissions that contribute to air pollution. While this is true in a narrow context – the vehicles themselves do not release the emissions – the energy that fuels the batteries comes largely from the burning of fossil fuels, and that energy creation causes the release of the same types of emissions that non-electric cars produce. Still, advances continue to be made to allow electric-car batteries to recharge using the vehicle’s own friction and other sources of energy that do not require the burning of fossil fuels.

Which of the following is a conclusion logically supported by the argument above?

A. Automakers are being untruthful when they advertise zero-emissions electric cars.
B. Because electric-car batteries need to derive their energy largely from fossil fuels, electric cars do not provide an emissions advantage over traditional cars.
C. With the exception of their capacity for recharging, electric car batteries do not create an emissions advantage over traditional automobiles.
D. Electric car batteries still require the use of at least some fossil fuels to power the vehicles.
E. Electric cars are not yet viable sources of zero emissions but someday will be.

kanakdaga · Accepted Answer

With advances in battery technology, electric cars allow automakers to tout that these vehicles produce none of the harmful emissions that contribute to air pollution. While this is true in a narrow context – the vehicles themselves do not release the emissions – the energy that fuels the batteries comes largely from the burning of fossil fuels, and that energy creation causes the release of the same types of emissions that non-electric cars produce. Still, advances continue to be made to allow electric-car batteries to recharge using the vehicle’s own friction and other sources of energy that do not require the burning of fossil fuels.

Which of the following is a conclusion logically supported by the argument above?

A. Automakers are being untruthful when they advertise zero-emissions electric cars.  Extreme language, they merely claim  
B. Because electric-car batteries need to derive their energy largely from fossil fuels, electric cars do not provide an emissions advantage over traditional cars.  they produce same type of emission, may be not the same quantity and therefore may still be advantageous  
C. With the exception of their capacity for recharging, electric car batteries do not create an emissions advantage over traditional automobiles.  Not mentioned explicitly  
D. Electric car batteries still require the use of at least some fossil fuels to power the vehicles. True, the argument collapses otherwise. 
E. Electric cars are not yet viable sources of zero emissions but someday will be.  Prediction. Out of scope

chetan2u · Answer

Hi,
since we are looking for CONCLUSION, we have to understand the structure of PARA..
the conclusion should FLOW out of it..

PARA 
 the electric vehicles are believed or shown off as not releasing any emissions. However the recharging of their batteries does involve emissions. so they are not completely emission free. However technology is being developed to allow electric-car batteries to recharge using the vehicle’s own friction and other sources of energy that do not require the burning of fossil fuels.

so the COCLUSION should deal with the little amount of emissions still happening..
 D correctly flows out of the PARA as the logical conclusion as all other choices are extreme or out of context

goodboyatwork · Answer

Isn't option E the right answer choice? Pls explain if it's not.

Posted from my mobile device

gvvsnraju@1 · Answer

E:- Electric cars are not yet viable sources of zero emissions but  someday will be .

AmitPanday  :- Concentrate on the underlined part above.

Did the author say the underlined part in the stimulus.

Right answer for an Inference/Conclusion question must be always true.

AKY13 · Answer

Hi 
Still,   advances continue to be made to allow electric-car batteries to recharge using the vehicle’s own friction   and other sources of energy that do not require the burning of fossil fuels.
Advances are expected to eliminate the fossil fuel requirement. Hence "someday will be" is valid.

We are asked to find out a conclusion. We are not asked to "find an argument which is true based on above info".

Can somebody help if I am missing something.

AKY13 · Answer

Is E eliminated because of the phrase "zero emissions". Because in the argument highlighted above it says that advances will eliminate the fossil fuel. Will alternate of fossil fuel not generate ANY emission.

vishalkazone · Answer

My one cent to understand why option E is wrong
1. It is a prediction which may or may not be true. While inference question must always be true. If the further research is successful it is true, but if the research is unsuccessful it is false. 
So we can eliminate option E.

Option D is true in any case.

Sent from my iPad using  GMAT Club Forum mobile app

Shrutijjw · Answer

This is a Must Be True question. The correct option does not bring in any new information but something that is already explicitly mentioned in the passage. Hence, option D is correct.

VerbalBot · Answer

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With advances in battery technology, electric cars allow automakers to

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