VOA科学技术2024--NASCAR Introduces Electric Racer to Explore Sustainable Technologies

The American professional racing¹ organization, NASCAR, recently rolled out its first electric vehicle model to the public.

Officials with the motorsports company say they hope to use the vehicle to explore the level of interest in electric vehicles (EVs) among racing fans. Development of the car is also part of NASCAR's efforts to expand its overall sustainability efforts.

NASCAR stands for the National Association for Stock Car Auto² Racing. The company operates and supervises hundreds of races at numerous tracks across the United States, as well as events in Mexico, Canada and Europe.

NASCAR races involve stock cars. Stock cars are based on usual car models. But, their design is improved for racing performance. The cars are stronger, more powerful and specially³ fitted for operations on specialized⁴, competitive racetracks.

The organization demonstrated the new EV model last weekend in the state of Illinois at NASCAR's Chicago Street Race.

So far, only one NASCAR driver, David Ragan, has driven the vehicle, worth $1.5 million. He has tested it on racetracks and also was behind the wheel in Chicago on Sunday.

Ragan told reporters at the event that driving the EV provides a completely different experience for the driver. The vehicle does not have the same sounds and smells as gasoline-powered racecars. In those vehicles, the engine's sound, smell and heat overpower a driver's senses.

Ragan told local television station WGN about the EV driving experience.

"Now you get to hear the brakes squealing⁵ and roaring getting into the corner. You get to hear the tires making noise across the corner." Ragan said. And, the racer noted⁶, he suffered none of the ringing in the ears that comes with driving the loud gas-powered cars.

NASCAR engineers partnered on the vehicle with automakers Chevrolet, Ford⁷ and Toyota, and electrical equipment company ABB. Europe-based ABB is currently NASCAR's official electrification⁸ partner. Company officials have said ABB aims to help NASCAR bring in more electricity from sustainable sources.

As one part of its wider sustainability efforts, NASCAR plans to team up with ABB to help establish more charging stations for EV drivers attending races at its 15 U.S. tracks.

NASCAR says longer-term plans include the use of sustainable racing fuel as well as recycling and using 100 percent renewable electricity at its events. The company also promises to cut its operating carbon output to "net zero" by 2035.

Riley Nelson is NASCAR's head of sustainability. He told Reuters the organization has no immediate⁹ plans to start an EV racing series. Rather, the EV model was built as a demonstration¹⁰ vehicle to explore new technologies.

Most NASCAR vehicles are based on normal sports models. But the new EV car is based on a larger "crossover" automobile¹¹. A large wing on the back of the vehicle is designed to help it compete with other race cars.

NASCAR officials have said the vehicle was built to produce 1,000 kilowatts¹² at top power. This is equal to 1,340 horsepower, about twice the amount produced by NASCAR's latest engine technologies.

NASCAR is not the first motorsports organization to expand into electric car racing. Formula E is an international EV racing series that officially began 10 years ago. But that organization's fan base is much smaller than NASCAR's.

NASCAR officials said demonstrating the EV vehicle at its events could increase interest in expanding the technology, especially among younger fans.

John Probst is NASCAR's senior vice¹³ president and chief racing development officer. He told The Associated Press the technology might one day even help the group reinvent the whole fan experience.

"It's our goal to entertain our fans," Probst said. "If our fans tell us this is what they want to see, we know how to create a racing series around pretty much anything."

Words in This Story

sustainable - adj. causing little or no damage to the environment over a period of time

brake - n. the part of a vehicle that makes it stop or go more slowly

corner - n. a projecting angle in a street or racing course

tire - n. a thick, round piece of rubber filled with air that fits around a wheel

entertain - v. to keep someone interested and help them to have an enjoyable time

1 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

2 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

3 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

4 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

5 squealing   

v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Pigs were grunting and squealing in the yard. 猪在院子里哼哼地叫个不停。
• The pigs were squealing. 猪尖叫着。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

8 electrification   

n.充电，电气化；起电；电化；带电

参考例句：

• Electrification of the countryside--yes, that, too, is impressive. 是的。农村电气化也是了不起的事。 来自演讲部分
• After electrification, it will readily stick to a wall or a ceiling. 起电后，它立即吸附到墙壁上或天花板上。 来自辞典例句

9 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

10 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

11 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。

12 kilowatts   

千瓦( kilowatt的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• It's about 500 kilowatts per hour on average. 年用电量平均为每小时500千瓦。 来自商贸英语会话
• We have an emergency-standby electric generator with a capacity of 300 kilowatts. 我们有一台三百千瓦的事故备用发电机。

13 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。