Electric-car battery charges in five minutes

 

Electric-car battery charges in five minutes  

 watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U1a2UOVs3M

Car makers are spending a lot of money on electric cars. In the future, electric cars will replace petrol cars. Environmentalists believe this will reduce the amount of CO2 put into the atmosphere. A big problem for electric cars is charging the battery. Some batteries in today's electric cars can take up to 12 hours to charge fully. However, a company in Israel says it has created a lithium-ion battery that people can charge in just five minutes. This is the same amount of time it takes to fill a tank of gas with petrol. The new lithium-ion batteries were developed by the Israeli company StoreDot. They are being manufactured by a Chinese company called Eve Energy.

The new batteries could totally transform driving. They would mean electric cars would be able to travel as far as petrol cars. Many people with electric cars today suffer from "range anxiety". This is stress caused by worrying about the battery running out of electricity. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "You're either afraid that you're going to get stuck on the highway, or that you're going to need to sit in a charging station for two hours." The new batteries would end this anxiety. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "We're at the point of achieving a revolution in the electric vehicle charging experience". He said it means the switch from petrol to electric cars will happen much faster.

Warm-ups

1. CAR BATTERIES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about car batteries. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       car makers / electric cars / atmosphere / battery / charge / time / petrol / company /
       transform / travel / anxiety / electricity / highway / spokesperson / revolution / switch
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. ELECTRIC CARS: Students A strongly believe electric cars are better than petrol cars; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. THE FUTURE: What will the future of these things look like? Will it be good or bad? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

The Future

Good Things

Bad Things

Cars

 

 

 

The Internet

 

 

 

English

 

 

 

Healthcare

 

 

 

Clothes

 

 

 

Food

 

 

 

 

5. BATTERY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "battery". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. CARS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important thing about cars at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Safety
  • Speed
  • Colour
  • Fuel efficiency
  • Performance
  • Price
  • Comfort
  • Looks

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1.

replace

a.

Make smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.

      2.

reduce

b.

Completely or in total.

      3.

atmosphere

c.

Made something on a large scale using robots and machinery.

      4.

fully

d.

The layer of gases surrounding the earth or another planet.

      5.

tank

e.

Made something new and made it better.

      6.

developed

f.

Change one thing for another thing.

      7.

manufactured

g.

A large container for putting in liquid or gas.

    Paragraph 2

      8.

transform

h.

Experience or have something bad or unpleasant.

      9.

suffer

i.

The area covered by or included in something.

      10.

range

j.

Contact with something or doing something to remember.

      11.

anxiety

k.

Be in a particular position without being able to move or get away.

      12.

stuck

l.

A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, because of a future event or something that may or may not happen.

      13.

revolution

m.

Made a total and big change in the form, appearance, or character of.

      14.

experience

n.

A big change in the way something works or is organized or in people's ideas about it.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Car makers are spending very little money on electric cars.     T / F
  2. Some electric-car batteries take 12 hours to charge.     T / F
  3. A company in Israel developed a lithium-steel battery.     T / F
  4. The new battery is being made in China.     T / F
  5. The article says electric cars will be able to go farther than petrol cars.    T / F
  6. "Range anxiety" is worrying about getting stuck on a road somewhere.    T / F
  7. The battery company said a revolution is coming with charging.     T / F
  8. The company said the switch to electric cars will be very slow.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. replace
  2. problem
  3. just
  4. developed
  5. manufactured
  6. transform
  7. anxiety
  8. afraid
  9. point
  10. happen
  1. only
  2. worry
  3. made
  4. change
  5. time
  6. take over from
  7. invented
  8. occur
  9. difficulty
  10. scared

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. Car makers are spending
  2. electric cars will
  3. reduce the amount
  4. take up to
  5. fill a tank
  6. travel as far
  7. range
  8. you're going to get stuck
  9. at the point of achieving a
  10. the switch from petrol
  1. on the highway
  2. of CO2
  3. as petrol cars
  4. of gas
  5. to electric cars
  6. a lot of money
  7. revolution
  8. 12 hours to charge
  9. replace petrol cars
  10. anxiety

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

amount
fully
manufactured
spending
tank
replace
just
charging

Car makers are (1) _____________________ a lot of money on electric cars. In the future, electric cars will (2) _____________________ petrol cars. Environmentalists believe this will reduce the (3) _____________________ of CO2 put into the atmosphere. A big problem for electric cars is (4) _____________________ the battery. Some batteries in today's electric cars can take up to 12 hours to charge (5) _____________________. However, a company in Israel says it has created a lithium-ion battery that people can charge in (6) _____________________ five minutes. This is the same amount of time it takes to fill a (7) _____________________ of gas with petrol. The new lithium-ion batteries were developed by the Israeli company StoreDot. They are being (8) _____________________ by a Chinese company called Eve Energy.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

switch
stuck
suffer
point
totally
running
faster
station

The new batteries could (9) _____________________ transform driving. They would mean electric cars would be able to travel as far as petrol cars. Many people with electric cars today (10) _____________________ from "range anxiety". This is stress caused by worrying about the battery (11) _____________________ out of electricity. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "You're either afraid that you're going to get (12) _____________________ on the highway, or that you're going to need to sit in a charging (13) _____________________ for two hours." The new batteries would end this anxiety. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "We're at the (14) _____________________ of achieving a revolution in the electric vehicle charging experience". He said it means the (15) _____________________ from petrol to electric cars will happen much (16) _____________________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) In the future, electric cars will ______
     a.  replaces petrol cars
     b.  replaced petrol cars
     c.  replace petrol cars
     d.  replacement petrol cars
2)  Some batteries in today's electric cars can take up to 12 hours ______
     a.  to charge full
     b.  to charges fully
     c.  to charges full
     d.  to charge fully
3)  created a lithium-ion battery that people can charge in ______
     a.  just five minutes
     b.  adjust five minutes
     c.  justly five minutes
     d.  justice five minutes
4)  This is the same amount of time it takes to fill a ______
     a.  dank of gas
     b.  rank of gas
     c.  tank of gas
     d.  bank of gas
5)  They are being manufactured by a Chinese company ______
     a.  call Eve Energy
     b.  called Eve Energy
     c.  calls Eve Energy
     d.  calling Eve Energy

6)  The new batteries could totally ______
     a.  trains form driving
     b.  trans firm driving
     c.  transform driving
     d.  transfer driving
7)  They would mean electric cars would be able to travel ______ petrol cars
     a.  as far as
     b.  as for as
     c.  as fur as
     d.  as fir as
8)  This is stress caused by worrying about the battery running ______
     a.  out of electrical
     b.  out of electrician
     c.  out of electrics
     d.  out of electricity
9)  The new batteries would ______
     a.  end this anxious
     b.  end this auxiliary
     c.  end this and deity
     d.  end this anxiety
10)  He said it means the switch from petrol to electric cars will ______
     a.  happen many faster
     b.  happen much faster
     c.  happen more faster
     d.  happen most faster

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Car makers are spending a lot (1) ____________________ electric cars. In the future, electric cars will replace petrol cars. Environmentalists believe this will reduce (2) ____________________ CO2 put into the atmosphere. A big problem for electric cars is charging the battery. Some batteries in today's electric cars can (3) ____________________ 12 hours to charge fully. However, a company in Israel says it has created a lithium-ion battery that people (4) ____________________ just five minutes. This is the same amount of time it takes to fill (5) ____________________ gas with petrol. The new lithium-ion batteries were developed by the Israeli company StoreDot. (6) ____________________ manufactured by a Chinese company called Eve Energy.

The new batteries (7) ____________________ driving. They would mean electric cars would (8) ____________________ travel as far as petrol cars. Many people with electric cars today suffer from "range anxiety". This is stress caused by worrying about the battery (9) ____________________ electricity. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "You're either afraid that you're going to get stuck on the highway, or that you're (10) ____________________ to sit in a charging station for two hours." The new batteries would end this anxiety. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "We're (11) ____________________ of achieving a revolution in the electric vehicle charging experience". He said it (12) ____________________ from petrol to electric cars will happen much faster.

Comprehension questions

  1. How much money are car makers spending?
  2. What will be reduced in the environment?
  3. How long can some batteries take to charge?
  4. In which country is the company that created the new battery?
  5. Where is the new battery being made?
  6. What does the article say the new battery will transform?
  7. What do many electric-car drivers suffer from?
  8. Where are people worrying about being stuck?
  9. What did a company say we are at the point of achieving?
  10. What did the company say might happen much faster?




Role play

Role  A – Looks
You think looks is the most important thing in a car. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): safety, performance or comfort.

Role  B – Safety
You think safety is the most important thing in a car. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): looks, performance or comfort.

Role  C – Performance
You think performance is the most important thing in a car. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): safety, looks or comfort.

Role  D – Comfort
You think comfort is the most important thing in a car. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): safety, performance or looks.



Discussion - Car Battery

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

  1. What did you think when you read the headline?
  2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'car'?
  3. What do you think of electric cars?
  4. In what ways are electric cars better than petrol cars?
  5. How bad are petrol cars for the environment?
  6. What do you think of charging electric-car batteries?
  7. Would you prefer an electric or petrol car?
  8. What do you know about batteries?
  9. How much CO2 does charging the batteries create?
  10. Should we use public transport instead of cars?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

  1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
  2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'battery'?
  3. What do you think about what you read?
  4. What do you think of petrol cars?
  5. In what ways are petrol cars better than electric cars?
  6. How would the new battery transform driving?
  7. Would you worry about running out of petrol?
  8. How might the new battery change driving?
  9. What gives you anxiety?
  10. What questions would you like to ask the battery maker?

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

Car makers are (1) ____ a lot of money on electric cars. In the future, electric cars will replace petrol cars. Environmentalists believe this will (2) ____ the amount of CO2 put into the atmosphere. A big problem for electric cars (3) ____ charging the battery. Some batteries in today's electric cars can take up to 12 hours to charge fully. However, a company in Israel says it has (4) ____ a lithium-ion battery that people can charge in just five minutes. This is the same amount of time it takes to fill a (5) ____ of gas with petrol. The new lithium-ion batteries were developed by the Israeli company StoreDot. They are (6) ____ manufactured by a Chinese company called Eve Energy.

The new batteries could (7) ____ transform driving. They would mean electric cars would be able to travel as far as petrol cars. Many people with electric cars today suffer from "range anxiety". This (8) ____ stress caused by worrying about the battery running out of electricity. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "You're either (9) ____ that you're going to get stuck on the highway, or that you're going to need to sit in a charging station for two hours." The new batteries would end (10) ____ anxiety. A StoreDot spokesperson said: "We're at the (11) ____ of achieving a revolution in the electric vehicle charging experience". He said it means the switch from petrol to electric cars will happen much (12) ____.

Which of these words go in the above text?

  1. (a)     spending     (b)     spent     (c)     spends     (d)     spender    
  2. (a)     deuce     (b)     deduce     (c)     reduce     (d)     induce    
  3. (a)     are     (b)     is     (c)     will     (d)     be    
  4. (a)     creating     (b)     creation     (c)     creates     (d)     created    
  5. (a)     tank     (b)     cup     (c)     box     (d)     carton    
  6. (a)     be     (b)     being     (c)     been     (d)     be in    
  7. (a)     totals     (b)     totality     (c)     total     (d)     totally    
  8. (a)     has     (b)     is     (c)     be     (d)     have    
  9. (a)     fright     (b)     scary     (c)     afraid     (d)     petrify    
  10. (a)     these     (b)     how     (c)     what     (d)     this    
  11. (a)     stand     (b)     step     (c)     rim     (d)     point     
  12. (a)     fast     (b)     faster     (c)     fasten     (d)     fasts

Spelling

Paragraph 1

  1. electric cars will plaeecr petrol cars
  2. this will urcdee the amount of CO2
  3. take up to 12 hours to charge uyllf
  4. the same uaotnm of time
  5. dveepldoe by the Israeli company
  6. fuaruaetndmc by a Chinese company

Paragraph 2

  1. totally snatrfrom driving
  2. people with electric cars today fuesrf
  3. range xtaneyi
  4. sit in a charging oisatnt for two hours
  5. at the point of achieving a vurooitlne

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

EU angers UK by calling Gibraltar a 'colony'

Watch:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfrWWQ4Kfy8   The United Kingdom has objected to the European Union's use of the word "colony" to describe the island of Gibraltar. The European Council (a body that defines the EU's political direction) produced a document regarding UK nationals travelling to the EU after Brexit. It says in a footnote: "Gibraltar is a colony of the British Crown. There is a controversy between Spain and the UK concerning the sovereignty over Gibraltar, a territory for which a solution has to be reached." A UK government spokesperson said: "Gibraltar is not a colony and it is completely inappropriate to describe it in this way. She added: "Gibraltar is a full part of the UK family....This will not change due to our exit from the EU." Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory located in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Morocco. It is home to over 30,000 people. In 1704, Anglo-Dutch forces captured it from Spa...
Read more

Chimpanzees love dancing, say researchers

  Chimpanzees love dancing, say researchers   Who knew that chimpanzees love to dance? They also like to clap along to music, and nod their head, tap their feet and move in time with the rhythm. A new study shows that chimpanzees could appreciate music. The researchers are from Kyoto University in Japan. They say their study could help us understand how early humans developed an interest in music. Researchers Dr Yuko Hattori and professor Masaki Tomonaga conducted tests on seven chimps. They played the apes six two-minute songs on a piano for six days. The researchers said the chimps had a definite sense of rhythm and it changed their mood. The male chimpanzees seemed to respond to the melodies more than the females. The researchers wrote that chimpanzees could have passed on a liking for music and dance to early humans millions of years ago. This could have happened via a common ancestor around six million years ago. The researchers said the study suggested that our love...
Read more