VOA常速英语2008年-Super-Charged Futuristic Car Takes on Fuel Prob

By Tony Budny
Washington
27 March 2008
 

An upstart car company in the United States is seeking to take advantage of rising oil prices.  Aptera has produced a three-wheeled vehicle that can reach speeds of 136 kilometers per hour and operate on little gasoline.  VOA's Tony Budny has the story in today's Searching for Solutions report.

The vehicle looks like it comes from outer space, but Aptera executive Chris Anthony says, fear not. His company's new Typ-1 car runs on common household electricity, not jet fuel.  "It doesn't require a special charger,” Anthony said.  "We got a charger installed in every home in America.  Just plug it in to your 110 [volt electrical] outlet¹."

Aptera has already received deposits from some 1,100 customers wanting an electric Typ-1, and deliveries begin later this year.  Aptera plans to produce another Typ-1 model, a gas-electric hybrid² that the company says could get nearly 131 kilometers per liter of gasoline. 

Aptera founder³ Steve Fambro says, "It'll give around 300 miles per gallon [127 kilometers per liter] for the first 100 miles [62 kilometers].  And it goes down to around 130 miles per gallon [34 kilometers per liter] as you deplete⁴ the batteries."

The car looks fragile, but it is made out of a molded composite material that the company says is half the weight of steel and 10 times as strong.  "It's very, very, very strong and can stand up to the durability⁵ of a Formula One style crash," explains Chris Anthony.

Aptera also uses space-age design inside the car.  It has a touch screen system for navigation, a climate control system powered by solar panels, and a relatively⁶ large storage area.  Recycled plastic makes up much of the interior. And cameras aid the driver's view around the car instead of mirrors.

So how much does a car that can do all this cost?  Around $30,000 - but, if it performs to expectations, Aptera hopes customers will consider it worth the price.

1 outlet   

n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄

参考例句：

• The outlet of a water pipe was blocked.水管的出水口堵住了。
• Running is a good outlet for his energy.跑步是他发泄过剩精力的好方法。

2 hybrid   

n.(动，植）杂种，混合物

参考例句：

• That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
• The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。

3 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。

4 deplete   

v.弄空，排除，减轻，减少...体液，放去...的血

参考例句：

• Most native mammal species have been severely depleted.大多数本地哺乳动物的数量都已经大大减少了。
• Elastic collisions deplete very little of the electron's energy.弹性碰撞中电子减少的能量非常少。

5 durability   

n.经久性，耐用性

参考例句：

• Nylons have the virtue of durability.尼龙丝袜有耐穿的优点。

6 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。