Hybrid Japanese Electric Vehicles

Hybrid electric vehicles have been developed by auto manufacturers independently, as a promising option for replacing internal combustion engine vehicles. To date, several hybrid buses and passenger car have been commercialized.

In 1997, Toyota Motor Corporation launched its originally designed production hybrid passenger car Prius. The price is 2.15 million yen, only 25 percent higher than a comparable gasoline vehicle. The Prius is powered by both gasoline engine and electric motor independently or jointly, doubling the fuel efficiency to 28 km per liter compared with a conventional Corolla. The company developed hybrid system combines parallel and series hybrid systems, allowing the engine simultaneously to provide propulsion and to operate an electric generator charging the nickel-metal hydride batteries with a power split device. The vehicle also achieved lower emissions, half of carbon dioxide and one tenth of nitrogen oxides compared to a gasoline car.

Nissan Motor's hybrid electric vehicle will use series hybrid system comprising a newly developed compact electric motor, lithium-ion batteries, and a gasoline engine which is solely used to generate electricity. The vehicle can cover 660 km, and runs 50 km on pure electric drive. The company claims that its hybrid system doubles fuel efficiency, and reduces nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide by 95%, and carbon dioxide 50% comparing with a gasoline version.

To promote development of a vehicle of high fuel efficiency with low emissions, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry initiated a 7-year hybrid vehicle development program from fiscal year 1997. The program also aims to develop a power unit and power control system for hybrid vehicles, alternative fuels, infrastructure for clean fuels, and light weight materials, with a budget of 210 million yen for the initial year.

Public interest in the electric vehicle has become higher and higher, to which the latest electric vehicles can respond in terms of performance, pleasure of driving, fuel efficiency, as well as zero emissions and low noise. The second-generation electric vehicles powered by long-life batteries also have far less running costs than conventional vehicles. These vehicles may hold the key to electric vehicle market expansion for the coming several years. Further improvement in vehicle performance, however, is indispensable especially for К class* mini vans and trucks, for these are the major vehicles to have been and to be introduced by the major users such as municipalities and utility companies.

Class К is the Japanese specific classification for vehicles which are less than 3.295 m long and with an engine displacement of 660 cc or less.

 

2. Переведите на русский язык следующие английские словосочетания:

1 endurance race 6 tubular steel

2 road race 7 racing cars

3 keep the wheels firmly 8 vast, wide tyres

4 fiercely competitive 9 give the edge

5 the front and rear wings 10 internal combustion engine

3. Найдите в тексте английские эквиваленты следующих словосочетаний:

1 скоростные машины 6 мощный двигатель

2 сверхлегкие материалы 7 такой же эффект

3 уменьшить воздушное сопротивление 8 недавно разработанный мотор

4 оригинально разработанная продукция 9 производить электричество

5 серийные гибридные системы 10 программа нацелена

4. Найдите в тексте слова, имеющие общий корень с данными словами. Определите, к какой части речи они относятся, и переведите их на русский язык:

develop, high, late, perform, please, improve, how, independent, design, dynamic, commercial, stream.

5. Задайте к выделенному в тексте предложению все типы вопросов (общий, альтернативный, разделительный, специальный: а) к подлежащему, б) к второстепенному члену предложения).

6. Выполните анализ данных предложений, обратив внимание на следующие грамматические явления: причастие I и II (Participle I & II), независимый причастный оборот, герундий, конверсия:

1 With futuristic bodywork matched by advanced engineering that gave the car 230 kmh (144 mph) performance, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL was a true classic.

2 Nissan Motor's hybrid electric vehicle will use series hybrid system comprising a newly developed compact electric motor.

3 Public interest in the electric vehicle has become higher and higher, to which the latest electric vehicles can respond in terms of performance, pleasure of driving, fuel efficiency, as well as zero emissions and low noise.

4 These are the major vehicles to have been and to be introduced by the major users such as municipalities and utility companies.

5 The company developed hybrid system combines parallel and series hybrid systems, allowing the engine simultaneously to provide propulsion and to operate an electric generator charging the nickel-metal hydride batteries with a power split device.

7. Ответьте на вопросы по тексту:

1 Why was the Mercedes-Benz 300SL a true classic?

2 What kind of machines are formula one racing cars?

3 What materials are open, one-seater bodies made of?

4 Why are designers always trying new ideas to give their cars?

5What is the price of Prius?

6 What will Nissan Motor's hybrid electric vehicle use?

7 What did the Ministry of International Trade and Industry initiate and why?