VOA慢速英语2019 卢旺达呼吁年轻人使用电动摩托车（在线收听）

Rwanda Urges Young People to Use Electric Motorcycles

Rwanda says its citizens should consider using electric motorcycles in an effort to protect the environment and cut fuel costs.

卢旺达表示，本国公民应该考虑使用电动摩托车（以下简称电摩），以保护环境并降低燃料成本。

Passengers and motorcyclists say the electric vehicles could change how Rwandans do business.

乘客及摩托车司机表示，这种电动车能够改变卢旺达人的经营模式。

James Musisi is one of 10 drivers who have started using the motorcycles in what is known as the moto-taxi business — motorcycle taxis. He says the vehicles are quiet, which means passengers are able to make telephone calls while they travel.

詹姆斯·穆西斯是10名开始在摩的生意中使用电摩的司机之一。他说，这种车辆很安静，意味着乘客在行驶过程中可以打电话。

Electric motorcycles are relatively low in cost when compared to other vehicles. One such bike costs $1,300. That is less than the $1,600 price for motorcycles that require fuel. Musisi notes that the electric bikes also require fewer repairs.

与其它车辆相比，电摩的成本也相对更低。一辆电摩的售价是1300美元。这比售价1600美元的燃油摩托车（以下简称油摩）要便宜。穆西斯指出，电摩修得也更少。

Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, has two charging stations for electric powered vehicles. A moto-taxi driver has to bring a dead battery to take a charged one, which runs for 70 kilometers. The price for recharging an electric vehicle is equal to the cost of the fuel for traditional motorcycles.

卢旺达首都基加利有两个电动车充电站。摩的司机必须带一个电量耗尽的电池来换一个充好电能跑70公里的电池。电摩的充电价格相当于传统摩托车的燃油成本。

In 2016, four business leaders formed a start-up company called Ampersand. Its aim is to create a mass market for commercial electric motorcycles in Rwanda.

2016年，4位商界领袖组建了一家名为Ampersand的初创公司。其目的是在卢旺达开创一个商用电摩的大众市场。

Josh Whale is the company's chief executive officer. He has high hopes for electric motorcycles in Rwanda.

乔希·威尔是该公司的首席执行官。他对卢旺达的电摩寄予了厚望。

He says, "For electricity, we found that the grid is sufficiently reliable in Kigali. There has been a lot of investment made in new (electric) transmission lines, which are operating well, so everything is good for us."

他说：“电力方面，我们认为基加利的电网十分可靠。这里在新输电线路上投入了很多资金，线路运行良好，这一些都对我们有利。”

Environmental efforts

环保措施

Engineer Collete Ruhamya is director-general of Rwanda's Environment Management Authority. She says the country has become an important player in the environmental protection movement.

工程师克莱特·鲁哈密亚是卢旺达环境管理局的局长。她说该国已经成为环保运动的重要参与者。

"I don't see why Rwanda should be behind. I think it's the right time for Rwanda to come forward," she said.

她说：“我不认为卢旺达应该落在后面。我认为现在正是卢旺达该站出来的时候。”

Rwandan President Paul Kagame recently announced that his government plans to replace all motorcycles with new electric ones.

卢旺达总统保罗·卡加梅最近宣布，该国政府计划用全新的电摩替换所有的油摩。

He said, "We will find a way to replace the ones you have now. We urge taxi-moto operators to help us when the phase-out process comes."

他说：“我们将会想办法替换现有的摩托车。我们督促摩的老板在开始逐步淘汰油摩时支持我们。”

The push for electric motorcycles follows other moves the government has taken to protect the environment and keep Kigali clean.

在推动电摩之前，政府已经采取其它举措来保护环境，并维护基加利的洁净。

Rwanda banned plastic bags over 10 years ago. And last year, it banned single-use plastic materials, including water bottles.

卢旺达10多年前就禁止使用塑料袋。去年该国禁止了使用包括水瓶在内的一次性塑料材料。

The United Nations notes that 8 million tons of plastic end up each year in the world's oceans, poisoning sea life and harming fisheries.

联合国指出每年有800万吨塑料最终流入海洋，毒害海洋生物并危害渔业。

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Words in This Story

motorcycle – n. a two-wheeled vehicle that is powered by a motor

taxi – n. a car or other vehicle used to transport passengers in return for payment

lubricant – n. an oil or other substance used to reduce resistance

battery – n. a container in which chemical energy is changed into electricity and used for power

commercial – adj. involving or related to trade or business

reliable – adj. dependable; good or trustworthy

bag – n. a device used to carrying things