These days no car show is complete without
an electric car, and the 2011 North American International Auto Show in
Detroit, US, which ran from January 10 to 23, was no exception.
Among the fully electric vehicles on display
were the Ford Focus Electric and the Honda Fit EV. BMW and Volvo also had
prominent displays at the show, proving that they can produce practical, yet
spacious family-oriented electric cars.
Industry insiders at the show claimed that
more efficient batteries, improved performance and greater consumer acceptance
could make 2011 the “year of electric car”.
It’s long been clear that electric cars
score heavily for convenience. They are, for instance, much easier to maintain
than gasoline-powered cars. When the battery runs out, you simply replace it or
recharge it, just like you would for a cell phone or a laptop.
This is also a much cheaper method than
filling your tank with gasoline. Better yet, electric cars don’t emit exhaust
fumes. As a result, they don’t produce environmentally damaging greenhouse
gases.
It appears that improved technology is making
electric cars and their maintenance much more user-friendly. So, what are the
obstacles which are preventing electric cars from becoming popular and
fashionable?
Home charging for electric cars could be
extremely convenient for users. However, it is also a potential obstacle. For a
start, installing charging stations in owners’ homes will be a challenge,
particularly for those who have to park several blocks away from their homes.
Also, charging the car’s battery still takes
quite a long time. It may be some time yet before you can recharge an electric
car in the same time as you can refill your gas tank.
Another problem is that many electric
vehicles have limited ranges that may only allow for journeys of 50 miles (80 km) or less between charges. In cases where a driver wishes to charge the car primarily at home (perhaps overnight), this limits their daily driving to the range of
their vehicle.
This may be one reason why hybrid
cars are now becoming more popular. A hybrid car has more than one energy
source, usually a traditional gasoline fuel tank and an electric battery. It’s
like a more practical version of an electric car: It’s greener than a
conventional vehicle, with fewer CO2 emissions, yet it also doubles as a
conventional vehicle.
“I would say that hybrid is a transition to
fully electronic,” Road and Track magazine editor Richard Horman told Detroit
News during the show. “The trend is for lighter, smarter, more economical cars.
Of course, electronic vehicles are meant to be that way.”
This sounds promising, particularly in light
of the fact that the show featured more electric cars from big manufacturers
than ever before.
However, it seems that the technology
associated with electric cars is not yet able to fully meet people’s
expectations. Don’t expect gasoline-powered cars to disappear from roads just
yet.
1. What made electric cars more
convenient?
A. Easier
maintenance. B.
High scores on the show.
C. Practicality and large space. D.
Much lower prices.
2. Which of the following could NOT
act as a potential obstacle of electric cars?
A. It is rough work to install charging
stations at home.
B. It is time-consuming to charge the
batteries.
C. The ranges between charges are limited.
D. There’s no need to fill the tank with
petrol.
3.In Paragraph 10, the underlined
word “hybrid” is probably closest in meaning to ________.
A. gasoline
B. electric C. combined
D. separated
4.The writer’s purpose in writing
this passage is to_________.
A. introduce the 2011 Auto Show in
US B. get readers informed of electric cars
C. comment on different types of
cars D. advertise for electric cars
Cyberspace,data
superhighway,multimedia,for those who have seen the future,and the linking of
computers,televisions and telephones will change our lives for ever.Yet for all
the talks of a forthcoming technological utopia,little attention has been given
to the implications of these developments for the poor.As for all the new high
technology,the West concerns itself with the “how”,while the question of “for
whom” is put aside once again.