Critical thinking in design. Proponents of the electric car maintain that when the technical problems associated with its battery design are solved, such cars will be widely used and, because they are emission$-$free, will result in an abatement of the environmental degradation caused by auto emissions. But unless we build dams on more rivers, the electricity to charge these so$-$designed batteries will come from nuclear or coal$-$fired power plants. Yet, each of these three power sources produces considerable environmental damage. Thus, the electric car design will $\_\_\_\_\_\_.$

A$.$

increase the total level of emissions rather than reduce it

B$.$

have worse environmental consequences than its proponents may believe

C$.$

probably remain less popular than other types of cars

D$.$

require that purely technical problems be solved before it can succeed

E$.$

will not produce a net reduction in environmental degradation