UK to Ban Petrol and Diesel Car Sales by 2040

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Category: Science/Environment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. shift / ʃɪft / (v) – to change from one thing to another
    Example:

    A lot of people are shifting from gasoline cars to electric cars.


  2. deplete / dɪˈplit / (v) – to drain or use up the supply of something
    Example:

    The batteries in electric cars can be recharged once they’ve been depleted.


  3. dedicated / ˈdɛd ɪˌkeɪ tɪd / (adj) – reserved for a specific purpose
    Example:

    In Norway, there are dedicated chargers for electric cars.


  4. mitigate / ˈmɪt ɪˌgeɪt / (v) – to make less severe
    Example:

    One of the things we can do to mitigate climate change is to use electric cars.


  5. phase out / ˈfeɪzˌaʊt / (phrasal) – to discontinue the use of something
    Example:

    Automakers will soon phase out gasoline-powered cars.


Article

Read the text below.

The sale of diesel and petrol cars in the UK is coming to an end as the government announced plans to go electric by 2040.


In the UK alone, an estimated 40,000 people die annually because of air pollution. To solve this, more countries are gradually going electric. Currently, electric vehicles (EVs) rank 26th in a 100-item list of climate change solutions.


Prior to the UK’s decision to go electric, other countries already announced their shift from gasoline-powered vehicles to EVs. France aims to end the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles by 2040 as well, while India and Norway are both aiming for 2030.


Electric vehicles have two types. The first is a plug-in car with rechargeable batteries. This type works like a regular electric appliance: once the energy is depleted, the EV has to be recharged using grid electricity from a wall socket or a dedicated charging unit. The second type has a fuel cell that converts hydrogen gas into clean electricity.


The switch to electric cars can mitigate climate change as it brings a lot of benefits. EVs emit zero carbon and use eco-friendly materials. Their use of renewable energy also leads to reduced greenhouse gas emissions. EVs can also help reduce noise pollution, as their motors run smoother compared to gasoline-powered cars.


Automakers are also trying to take advantage of this recent trend. Volvo has announced that they will phase out purely petrol and diesel-powered vehicles starting 2019. In addition, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have also revealed details about their upcoming electric vehicles.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Do you think the use of electric vehicles will soon become widespread? Why or why not?
• Aside from electric vehicles, how else can the transportation industry become more environment-friendly?

Discussion B

• How would you assess the level of air pollution in your country? What are its main sources?
• What do you think are the best ways to reduce air pollution in your country?