It might be cleaner, but is it also cheaper?

You might have noticed that several car manufacturers have been developing either "hybrid" cars, or electric cars of late. There is one question I really would like answered about this.
Okay, we all see the sense that whilst driving an electric car it doesn't pollute the atmosphere. However, in the long run does it pollute by the same amount, somewhere along the line? After all the electric needs to be generated to charge the car up. And I know it would be marvelous if all the countries needs for electric was generated via natural , sorry I mean, environmentally friendly generation. Windmills, hydro electric, solar power, and the like. But we are still a long way from this. Plus not everyone likes the windmills....but that's another post. Lastly, the energy providers keep putting up the price of electric, so would an electric car work out cheaper? Maybe, maybe not! It's something to think about.
Just as a crazy aside, the ideal "environmentally friendly" transport would have solar cells, and a small wind generator....and in this country, maybe even a small waterwheel as well! (Bet that's made you smile.)