Ford Abandons Electric Vehicles         

       The Ford motor company’s¹ abandonment of electric cars effectively signals the end of the road for the technology，analysts say．
　　General Motors² and Honda³ ceased production of battery-powered cars in 1 999, to focus on fuel cell⁴ and hybrid electric gasoline engines⁵, which are more attractive to the consumer．Ford has now announced it will do the same．

　　Three years ago．the company introduced the Think City two—seater car and a golf cart called the THINK, or Think Neighbor⁶．It hoped to sell 5，000 cars each year and 10，000 carts．But a lack of demand means only about l，000 of the cars have been produced，and less than 1，700 carts have been sold so far in 2002．
　　“The bottom line is⁷ we don’t believe that this is the future of environment transport for the mass market．”Tim Holmes of Ford Europe said on Friday．“We feel we have given electric our best shot⁸”
　　The Think City has a range of only about 53 miles and up to a six-hour battery recharge time．General Motors’EVI electric vehicle also had a limited range，of about 100 miles．
　　The very expensive batteries also mean electric cars cost much more than petrol-powered alternatives．An electric Toyot⁹ RAV4 EV vehicle costs over$42，000 in the US, compared with just $17，000 for the petrol version．Toyota and Nissan¹⁰ are now the only major auto manufacturers to produce electric vehicles．
　　“There is a feeling that battery electric has been given its chance．Ford now has to move on with its hybrid program¹¹，and that is what we will be judging them on，”Roger Higman，a senior transport campaigner at UK Friends of the Earth，told the Environment News Service．

　　Hybrid cars introduced by Toyota and Honda in the past few years have sold well．Hybrid engines Offer Greater mileage than petrol—only engines , and the batteries recharge themselves. Ford says it thinks such vehicles will help it meet planned new guidelines ¹² on vehicle emissions¹³ in theU.S.

　　However, it is not yet clear exactly what those guidelines will permit．In June，General Motors and Daimler Chrysler¹⁴ won a court injunction，delaying by two years Californian legislation requiring car—makers to offer 100，000 zero-emission and other low—emission vehicles in the state by 2003．Car manufacturers hope the legislation will be rewritten to allow for more low--emission，rather than zero—emission，vehicles．

 

词汇：

hybrid / "haɪbrɪd / n.杂种，混合物；adj. 杂种   

Mileage/ ˈmaɪlɪdʒ/n.英里数，英里里程的；混合的

Injunction / ɪnˈdʒʌŋkʃən/ n命令；指令

 

注释:  

1. The Ford motor company:福特汽车公司。Henry Ford (1863--1947)美国汽车制造商，他改进了以汽油为燃料的汽车，成立了福特汽车公司(1903年)，并大量生产最早的大众负担得起且广泛使用的T型车。

2. General Motors:美国通用汽车公司

3. Honda:日本本田汽车公司

4. fuel cell:燃料电池，一种化学电池。 

5. hybrid electric gasoline engines:电池和内燃机混杂使用的发动机，使用这种发动机的汽车被称为: Hybrid electric vehicles，或HEVs。 

6. … the company introduced the Think City two-seater car and a golf cart called the THINK, or Think Neighbor:福特汽车公司计划在公司内开发一种全新的品牌，建立了Think Group.该研究机构分为两部分: Think Mobility和Think Technologies。Think Mobility开发the Think City (一种电动汽车)，Think Neighbor (一种高尔夫车)，以及Think Bike (一种电动自行车)。Think Technologies开发燃料电池技术。 

7. The bottom line is:在此的意思是“the main or essential point”，即“关键之处是，实质问题是”。

8. shot: an attempt, a try (尝试)。

9. Toyota:日本丰田汽车公司

10. Nissan:日本日产汽车公司 

11. hybrid program:指上文提到的电池和内燃机混杂使用的新型汽车开发项目。

12. guideline:指导方针，规定

13. vehicle emissions:车辆排放物 

14. Daintier Chrysler:戴姆勒克莱斯勒汽车公司。德国戴姆勒·奔驰公司集团与克莱斯勒汽车公司合并。

Which auto manufacturers are still producing electric vehicles?

A:Toyota and Nissan B:General Motor’s and Honda C:General Motor’s and Honda D:Honda and Toyota

下列是中国自主品牌汽车的是（）

A:TOYOTA B:BYD C:NISSAN D:HONDA

（）的英文全称是TOYOTA。

From the passage we may infer that the Toyota's Partner

A:is much better than any other robots. B:is no more than a mechanic device. C:may be put into mass production. D:may have some practical value.

The Ford motor company’s abandonment of electric cars effectively signals the end of the road for the technology, analysts say.
General Motors and Honda ceased production of battery-powered cars in 1999, to focus on fuel cell and hybrid electric gasoline engines, which are more attractive to the consumer. Ford has now announced it will do the same.
Three years ago, the company introduced the Think City two-seater car and a golf cart called the THINK, or Think Neighbor. It hoped to sell 5,000 cars each year and 10,000 carts. But a lack of demand means only about 1,000 of the cars have been produced, and less than 1,700 carts have been sold so far in 2002.
"The bottom line is we don’t believe that this is the future of environment transport for the mass market," Tim Holmes of Ford Europe said on Friday. "We feel we have given electric our best shot. "
The Think City has a range of only about 53 miles and up to a six-hour battery recharge time. General Motors’ EVI electric vehicle also had a limited range, of about 100 miles.
The very expensive batteries also mean electric cars cost much more than petrol-powered alternatives. An electric Toyota RAV4 EV vehicle costs over $42,000 in the US, compared with just $17,000 for the petrol version. Toyota and Nissan are now the only major auto manufacturers to produce electric vehicles.
"There is a feeling that battery electric has been given its chance. Ford now has to move on with its hybrid program, and that is what we will be judging them on, " Roger Higman, a senior transport campaigner at UK Friends of the Earth, told the Environment News Service.
Hybrid cars introduced by Toyota and Honda in the past few years have sold well. Hybrid engines offer greater mileage than petrol-only engines, and the batteries recharge themselves. Ford says it thinks such vehicles will help it meet planned new guidelines on vehicle emissions in the US.
However, it is not yet clear exactly what those guidelines will permit. In June, General Motors and Daimler Chrysler won a court injunction, delaying by two years Californian legislation requiring car-makers to offer 100,000 zero-emission and other low-emission vehicles in the state by 2003. Car manufacturers hope the legislation will be rewritten to allow for more low-emission, rather than zero-emission, vehicles.
Which auto manufacturers are still producing electric vehicles

A:Toyota and Nissan. B:General Motor’s and Honda. C:Ford and Toyota. D:Honda and Toyot

下面有3篇短文，每篇短文后有5道题，每题后面有4个选项。请仔细阅读短文并根据短文回答其后面的问题，从4个选项中选择1个最佳答案。
{{B}}第一篇{{/B}}

Which auto manufacturers are still producing electric vehicles?

A:Toyota and Nissan. B:General Motor’s and Honda. C:Ford and Toyota. D:Honda and Toyota.

The Ford motor company’s abandonment of electric cars effectively signals the end of the road for the technology, analysts say.
General Motors and Honda ceased production of battery-powered cars in 1999, to focus on fuel cell and hybrid electric gasoline engines, which are more attractive to the consumers. Ford has now announced it will do the same.
Three years ago, the company introduced the Think City two-seater car and a golf cart called the THINK, or Think Neighbor. It hoped to sell 5,000 cars each year and 10,000 carts. But a lack of demand means only about 1,000 of the cars have been produced, and less than 1,700 carts have been sold so far in 2002.
"The bottom line is we don’t believe that this is the future of environment transport for the mass market," Tim Holmes of Ford Europe said on Friday. "We feel we have given electric our best shot."
The Think City has a range of only about 53 miles and up to a six-hour battery recharge time. General Motors’ EVI electric vehicle also had a limited range of about 100 miles.
The very expensive batteries also mean electric cars cost much more than petrol- powered alternatives. An electric Toyota RAV4 EV vehicle costs over $ 42,000 in the US, compared with just $17,000 for the petrol version. Toyota and Nissan are now the only major automanufacturers to produce electric vehicles.
"There is a feeling that battery electric has been given its chance. Ford now has to move on with its hybrid program, and that is what we will be judging them on, "Roger Higman, a senior transport campaigner at UK Friends of the Earth, told the Environment News Service.
Hybrid cars introduced by Toyota and Honda in the past few years have sold well. Hybrid engines offer greater mileage than petrol—only engines, and the batteries recharge themselves. Ford says it thinks such vehicles will help it meet planned new guidelines "on vehicle emissions" in the US.
However, it is not yet clear exactly what those guidelines will permit. In June, General Motors and Daimler Chrysler won a court injunction, delaying by two years Californian legislation requiring car-makers to offer 100,000 zero-emission and other low-emission vehicles in the state by 2003. Car manufacturers hope the legislation will be rewritten to allow for more low-emission, rather than zero-emission, vehicles.

Which auto manufacturers are still producing electric vehicles（　）

A:Toyota and Nissan. B:General Motors and Honda. C:Ford and Toyota. D:Honda and Toyota.

The Ford motor company’s abandonment of electric cars effectively signals the end of the road for the technology, analysts say.
General Motor and Honda’ ceased production of battery, powered cars in 1999, to focus on fuel cell and hybrid electric gasoline engines, which are more attractive to the consumer. Ford has now announced it will do the same.
Three years ago, the company introduced the Think City two-seater car and a golf cart called the THINK, or ThinkNeighbor. It hoped to sell 5,000 cars each year and 10,000 carts. But a lack of demand means only about 1,000 of the cars have been produced, and less than 1,700 carts have been sold so far in 2002.
"The bottom line is we don’t believe that this is the future of environment transport for the mass market. "Tim Holmes of Ford Europe said on Friday. "We feel we have given electric our best shot".
The Think City has a range of only about 53 miles and up to a six-hour battery recharge time. General Motors’ EVI electric vehicle also had a limited range, of about 100 miles.
The very expensive batteries also mean electric cars cost much more than petrol-powered alternatives. An electric Toyot-RAV4 EV vehicle costs over $ 42,000 in the US, compared with just $17,000 for the petrol version. Toyota and Nissan are now the only major auto manufacturers to produce electric vehicles.
"There is a feeling that battery electric has been given its chance. Ford now has to move on with its hybrid program, and that is what we will be judging them on. " Roger Higman, a senior transport campaigner at UK Friends of the Earth, told the Environment News Service.
Hybrid cars introduced by Toyota and Honda in the past few years have sold well. Hybrid engines offer greater mileage than petrol-only engines , and the batteries recharge themselves. Ford says it thinks such vehicles will help it meet planned new guidelines "on vehicle emissions" in the U.S.
However, it is not yet clear exactly what those guidelines will permit. In June, General Motors and Daimler Chrysler won a court injunction, delaying by two years Californian legislation requiring car-makers to offer 100,000 zero-emission and other low-emission vehicles in the state by 2003. Car manufacturers hope the legislation will be rewritten to allow for more low-emission, rather than zero-emission, vehicles.
Which auto manufacturers are still producing electric vehicles

A:Toyota and Nissan B:General Motor’s and Honda C:Ford and Toyota D:Honda and Toyota