One of the big appeals of electric vehicles is the complete elimination of harmful emissions. Yet new technology may mean that emissions will be hanging around for awhile.

IndustryWeek reports that General Motors and Purdue are working on new technology that would allow vehicles to convert emissions into electricity, allowing for increased fuel economy. The device uses a special metal that absorbs heat from the emissions on one side while remaining cool on the other. The massive difference in temperature creates an electric current that can then be used by the engine.

The new material is called skutterudite, and is made up of common metals like nickel and cobalt along with rarer elements like lanthanum, caesium and neodymium.

Researches say that as it stands now, the technology could reduce fuel consumption by five percent. With enough advances in technology, that figure could possibly rise to 10 percent.

Cars aren't the only application for the new technology. The innovation could potentially be used in any application in which heat is wasted, such as home heating and manufacturing facilities.

The research was made possible thanks to a $1.4 million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy.