1.3.1　The Early Years

Prior to the 1830s，the means of transportation was only through steam power，because the laws of electromagnetic induction，and consequently，electric motors and generators，were yet to be discovered.Faraday demonstrated the principle of the electric motor as early as in 1820 through a wire rod carrying electric current and a magnet，but in 1831 he discovered the laws of electromagnetic induction that enabled the development and demonstration of the electric motors and generators essential for electric transportation.The history of EVs in those early years up to its peak period in the early 1900s is summarized below:

·Pre-1830—Steam-powered transportation

·1831—Faraday's law，and shortly thereafter，invention of DC motor

·1834—Nonrechargeable battery-powered electric car used on a short track

·1851—Nonrechargeable 19 m/h electric car（1 mile＝1，609.344 m）

·1859—Development of lead storage battery

·1874—Battery-powered carriage

·Early 1870s—Electricity produced by dynamo-generators

·1885—Gasoline-powered tricycle car

·1900—4，200 automobiles sold，40% steam powered，38% electric powered，22% gasoline powered

·1912—34，000 EVs registered；EVs outnumber gas-powered vehicles 2-to-1

·1920s—EVs disappear，and ICEVs become predominant

The factors that led to the disappearance of EVs after their short period of success were as follows:

1.Invention of starter motor in 1911 made gas vehicles easier to start.

2.Improvements in mass production of Henry T（gas-powered car）vehicles sold for＄260 in 1925，compared to＄850 in 1909.EVs were more expensive.

3.Rural areas had limited access to electricity to charge batteries，whereas gasoline could be sold in those areas.

New words and expressions（单词和短语）

1.New words（单词）

2. Expressions（短语）

Notes to the text（难点解析）

★1.Prior to the 1830s，the means of transportation was only through steam power，because the laws of electromagnetic induction，and consequently，electric motors and generators，were yet to be discovered.追溯到19世纪30年代，在电磁感应定律、电动机和发电机发明之前，交通工具都是靠蒸汽驱动。

★2.Faraday demonstrated the principle of the electric motor as early as in 1820 through a wire rod carrying electric current and a magnet，but in 1831 he discovered the laws of electromagnetic induction that enabled the development and demonstration of the electric motors and generators essential for electric transportation.早在1820年，法拉第使用一个通电的线圈和磁铁论证了电动机的原理，直到1831年，他发现了电磁感应定律，这项重大发现促进了电动机和发电机的发展，使电力交通的推广成为可能。

Exercises（练习）

◆1.Translate the following passages（expressions）into Chinese（英译汉）

（1）gasoline-powered vehicle

（2）the laws of electromagnetic induction

（3）electric transportation

（4）Improvements in mass production of Henry T（gas-powered car）vehicles sold for＄260 in 1925，compared to＄850 in 1909.EVs were more expensive.

◆2.Translate the following passages（expressions）into English（汉译英）

（1）环境污染

（2）起动机

（3）郊区充电设施不完善，但加油很方便。

◆3.Directions:Answer the following questions briefly according to the text

Why are the histories of EVs in those early years up to their peak period in the early 1900s？

Reading material（阅读材料）

The specifications of some of the early EVs are given below:

·1897—French Krieger Co.EV:weight，2，230 lb（1 1b＝0.453，592，37 kg）；top speed，15 m/h；range，50 mile/charge

·1900—French B.G.S.Co.EV:top speed，40 m/h；range，100 mile/charge

·1915—Woods EV:top speed，40 m/h；range，100 mile/charge

·1915—Lansden EV:weight，2，460 lb；top speed，93 mile/charge；capacity，1 ton payload