经济学人345:电动汽车 马力十足

　　Business
商业报道
Electric cars
电动汽车
Fully¹ charged
马力十足
Tesla gains new admirers as it heads towards the mass market
面向大众市场，特斯拉赢得许多新的追随者
IF COMFORTABLY outpacing your rivals is the main measure of automotive achievement, Tesla's electric car is a resounding² success.
如果说舒舒服服超过竞争对手是汽车行业中衡量成功的主要标准，那么特斯拉电动车就是这个行业中响当当的成功者。
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The Model S last year outsold its nearest luxury rival, Mercedes's petrol-engined S-class, by 30% inAmerica.
在美国市场中，特斯拉Model S型电动车与最接近的同类型豪华轿车奔驰燃油动力S级轿车相比，前者销量高出30%。
And in its top specification³ the Tesla will also beat the German car in the race from 0-60mph.
从特斯拉的高规格中可以看出它将在60英里/小时之内的时速上打败德国车。
As a battery-maker Tesla is also moving fast.
在电池制造业方面，特斯拉也在迅速前进。
This week it announced plans to build a gigafactory inAmericato make lithium-ion power-packs, that it hopes will propel its vehicles to the mainstream⁴.
这周特斯拉宣布，计划在美国建造超级电池工厂来生产锂离子能量包，并希望以此可以推动它的电动车成为主流。
Tesla's acceleration⁵ has been rapid.
特斯拉的发展速度一直很惊人。
Launched a decade ago by Elon Musk⁶, a founder⁷ of PayPal and serial⁸ tech entrepreneur, last year it sold around 22,000 cars and by the end of 2014 hopes to be making1,000 aweek.
十年前，身为贝宝创始人、工程企业家的埃隆马斯克开发的的特斯拉在去年卖出22，000左右辆，而在2014年底之前预期每周售出1,000辆。
In early 2015 Tesla will add the Model X, a medium-sized SUV, to its range.
在2015年初，特斯拉将新增中等SUV车型Modle X。
However, Tesla's impressive growth has not yet translated into significant profits.
但是，特斯拉如此惊人的高销量还没有转化为利润，
A series of battery fires also briefly⁹ dented¹⁰ sales growth last year.
况且去年一系列的电池火灾事件也使特斯拉的销量有所下降。
Nevertheless, Tesla's shares surged on February 25th, to value the company at over 30 billion after Morgan Stanley, a bank, joined its adoring fans.
但是，在摩根史丹利银行成为崇拜它的粉丝后，公司价值超过300亿美元，2月25日特斯拉的销量还是猛增了。
It reckons that the battery factory will not only propel it along the road to mass manufacturing but also make it a leading competitor in low-cost energy storage, the key to making renewable energy more practical.
摩根史丹利银行认为，电池工厂将不只在大批量生产下推动特斯拉发展，还会使它成为低成本能量储存电池的领军者，
The bank is also confident that Tesla'sSilicon Valleylocation will put it in the driverless front seat of autonomous¹¹ motoring.
并相信特斯拉硅谷基地将会带领着特斯拉成为无人驾驶领域的先驱。
A recent meeting with Apple, and the iPad-like control panel of the Model S, have convinced some observers that a takeover and an iCar are around the corner, although Mr Musk insists that his firm is not for sale.
尽管马斯克坚持说他不会卖公司，但近期特斯拉与苹果高层的一次会面和它生产的类平板电脑控制面板的Model S的面市令一些观察员相信特斯拉的收购和iCar不久就会出现。
Tesla has defied its doubters with the success of the Model S, a smartly styled luxury saloon.
特斯拉已经用它Model S的成功击败了它的怀疑者。
It may not share the outrageous¹² looks of a supercar like the Lamborghini Aventador, but it has the performance without the 400,000-plus price tag.
这是一款精简风格的豪华版电动车，虽然它不像兰博基尼的艾文塔多那样拥有夸张外表的超跑，但它的表现绝对比得过了40万美元以上的价格。
The most basic Model S costs 64,000 inAmerica.
最基本的Modle S在美国的税后价是64，000美元。
This has won it rave¹³ reviews in the motoring press, often sniffy about other electric cars with limited ranges and duff looks.
这些为它在汽车新闻赢得了惊呼的评论，它经常嘲笑其他电动车里程受限、外观无型。
By designing a large car with a big battery pack, Tesla has diminished range anxiety—one version can do 310 miles between charges.
特斯拉用大容量电池打造巨型车，这就让它消除了里程焦虑-有一款车充电一次可以行驶310英里。
But Tesla is so far in a niche¹⁴, albeit¹⁵ with an incredibly loyal base of wealthy buyers.
除了一批极度忠诚而又富有的消费者以外，特斯拉目前正处于一个十分有前景的市场当中。
A Tesla is a more stylish¹⁶ way of displaying environmentalist credentials¹⁷ than a lumpen Toyota Prius and more practical than a Ferrari—putting two child seats in the back boosts the capacity to seven passengers.
特斯拉比落魄的丰田普锐斯更能体现环保，比法拉利更能体现实用-在后加速器放两个儿童座位，可容纳7人。
Mr Musk is a convincing salesman, at least to rich Californians.
马斯克是个非常具有有说服力的销售员，至少在富有的加利福尼亚来说是这样。
The prospects¹⁸ for electric cars have taken a turn for the better.
电动车的前景有了转机，可以发展地更好。
China, a market that Tesla is eyeing for a third of its sales, last month announced strict new fuel-efficiency standards that may make life hard, if not impossible, for importers of big petrol-engined cars.
中国正是特斯拉觊觎的第三大销售市场，上个月中国宣布了严格的新能源节能标准，这一新规很可能使得大型燃油动力汽车进口商举步维艰。
The European Union this week confirmed new curbs¹⁹ on tailpipe emissions²⁰, to be imposed from 2021.
欧盟在这周确定了新的尾气排放限制标准，将从2021年开始实施。
Even so, becoming a mass-market General Electric Motors will not be easy.
即便如此，要想成为拥有大众市场的通用电动汽车不是件简单的事。
In about three years Tesla will launch the Model E, a small saloon with a range of perhaps 400 miles, costing just 35,000 or so—if its new factory can make batteries that are good and cheap enough.
如果新工厂能够生产出质优价廉的电池的话，特斯拉将在三年内开发Model E，这是一款可行驶400英里左右的小型豪华车，费用大约在35,000美元。
It will have to, because its buyers will be using it as an everyday set of wheels, not an indulgence.
特斯拉将不得不研发出高性价比的电池，因为消费者们会把这类车当成代步工具，而不仅仅是一个玩物。
And it will have rivals: BMW's i3, launched last year, is aimed at the same market. Other carmakers will follow suit.
但它也会有竞争对手：宝马的I3，该款车是去年开发且同特斯拉的有一样的目标市场，至于其他的汽车制造商，只会追随他们的脚步。
For buyers who just want the cheapest means of getting from A to B, regardless of the vehicle's looks or performance, the lowest-cost petrol cars will be hard to beat for some time to come.
有些人不会顾及汽车的外观和性能，只关心价格低廉、方便出行，这样对特斯拉来说，在未来一段时间内很难击败低价汽车。
Traditional carmakers talk of one day serving such customers with mobility²¹ as a service—fleets of self-driving taxis.
传统的汽车制造商宣扬，总有一天，他们将提供给这类消费者一种动力服务。
Tesla, which is also investing in autonomous driving technology, could be a strong contender in such a new market:
特斯拉也正在自动驾驶科技领域投资，它可能在这个新市场是一个强大的竞争者：
unlike its older rivals, it would have no legacy²² business, of factories churning out petrol models, to be disrupted.
特斯拉与传统竞争对手不同之处在于，他们没有值得缅怀的传奇，相应地同样也没有即将破败的燃油动力汽车工厂。
1.plan to 打算,计划
Many plan to stomach more risk.
许多人计划承担更多的风险。
Other countries plan to buy or build more.
其他国家也打算购买或建造更多的潜艇。
2.propel to 推进至
Conversely, employees who represent the brand flawlessly and consistently can propel a business to stardom.
反过来,雇员代表和维持品牌可以推动企业不断轻声呼唤。
Experts say several factors have helped propel moocs to the center of the education stage, including improved technology and the exploding costs of traditional universities.
专家表示有几个原因把moocs网教推向了教育舞台的中央，包括科技的日新月异，还有传统大学天价的花费。
3.by the end of 到…为止
Will that be resolved by the end of 2010?
这个问题能否在2010年底前得到解决？
By the end of the study, 180 people had alzheimers.
这一研究结束的时候，有180个人患上阿兹莫尔症。
4.translate into 转化为
That genetic²³ variability seems to translate into behavioral variability.
遗传变异性似乎导致了行为差异性。
Can you translate into chinese what the captain has just announced?
你可以把机长刚才的广播翻译成中文吗？

1 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

2 resounding   

adj. 响亮的

参考例句：

• The astronaut was welcomed with joyous,resounding acclaim. 人们欢声雷动地迎接那位宇航员。
• He hit the water with a resounding slap. 他啪的一声拍了一下水。

3 specification   

n.详述；[常pl.]规格，说明书，规范

参考例句：

• I want to know his specification of details.我想知道他对细节的详述。
• Examination confirmed that the quality of the products was up to specification.经检查，产品质量合格。

4 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

5 acceleration   

n.加速，加速度

参考例句：

• All spacemen must be able to bear acceleration.所有太空人都应能承受加速度。
• He has also called for an acceleration of political reforms.他同时呼吁加快政治改革的步伐。

6 musk   

n.麝香, 能发出麝香的各种各样的植物，香猫

参考例句：

• Musk is used for perfume and stimulant.麝香可以用作香料和兴奋剂。
• She scented her clothes with musk.她用麝香使衣服充满了香味。

7 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

8 serial   

n.连本影片，连本电视节目；adj.连续的

参考例句：

• A new serial is starting on television tonight.今晚电视开播一部新的电视连续剧。
• Can you account for the serial failures in our experiment?你能解释我们实验屡屡失败的原因吗？

9 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

10 dented   

v.使产生凹痕( dent的过去式和过去分词 )；损害；伤害；挫伤（信心、名誉等）

参考例句：

• The back of the car was badly dented in the collision. 汽车尾部被撞后严重凹陷。
• I'm afraid I've dented the car. 恐怕我把车子撞瘪了一些。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

12 outrageous   

adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的

参考例句：

• Her outrageous behaviour at the party offended everyone.她在聚会上的无礼行为触怒了每一个人。
• Charges for local telephone calls are particularly outrageous.本地电话资费贵得出奇。

13 rave   

vi.胡言乱语；热衷谈论；n.热情赞扬

参考例句：

• The drunkard began to rave again.这酒鬼又开始胡言乱语了。
• Now I understand why readers rave about this book.我现明白读者为何对这本书赞不绝口了。

14 niche   

n.壁龛；合适的职务(环境、位置等)

参考例句：

• Madeleine placed it carefully in the rocky niche. 玛德琳小心翼翼地把它放在岩石壁龛里。
• The really talented among women would always make their own niche.妇女中真正有才能的人总是各得其所。

15 albeit   

conj.即使；纵使；虽然

参考例句：

• Albeit fictional,she seemed to have resolved the problem.虽然是虚构的，但是在她看来好象是解决了问题。
• Albeit he has failed twice,he is not discouraged.虽然失败了两次，但他并没有气馁。

16 stylish   

adj.流行的，时髦的；漂亮的，气派的

参考例句：

• He's a stylish dresser.他是个穿着很有格调的人。
• What stylish women are wearing in Paris will be worn by women all over the world.巴黎女性时装往往会引导世界时装潮流。

17 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

18 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

19 curbs   

v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• In executing his functions he is not bound by any legal curbs on his power. 在他履行职务时，他的权力是不受任何法律约束的。 来自辞典例句
• Curbs on air travel were being worked out and would shortly be announced. 限制航空旅行的有关规定正在拟定中，不久即将公布。 来自辞典例句

20 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

21 mobility   

n.可动性，变动性，情感不定

参考例句：

• The difference in regional house prices acts as an obstacle to mobility of labour.不同地区房价的差异阻碍了劳动力的流动。
• Mobility is very important in guerrilla warfare.机动性在游击战中至关重要。

22 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

23 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。