Drivers get look at alternative fuel cars

With gas prices inching ever upward, some drivers are looking for solutions and eyeing alternative fuels.

This weekend the American Automobile Association hosted its first greenlight initiative showcase, a display of cars that run on alternative fuels.

Hybrids, vehicles that run on natural gas, hybrids, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles were on display.

"It is zero emissions," said Chris White of the California Fuel Cell Partnership. "They make clean, fast great-performing vehicles. And it's a fuel source that we will never run out of."

In the East Bay, a handful of hydrogen-powered buses are already being tested on the roads.

Ole and Jo Helleskov of Carmichael are concerned about both the high cost of gasoline and the environmental impact of fossile fuels. They believe hydrogen fuel cell technology is in reach, but they're worried about the cost. They remember how expensive hybrids were when they first came out.

"I actually sat down to figure out what I would save at that time and I would have to drive that car 600,000 miles in order to be even," said Ole Hellskov.

Manufacturers predict hydrogen-powered cars won't be readily available at affordable prices for about 10 years.

The Fuel Cell Partnership says one thing that will save consumers money when they own a hydrogen-powered car in the future will be maintenance. Because there are no major moving parts in the vehicle's engine, if there is a problem, all an owner would have to do to troubleshoot is plug a laptop into it. Most repairs will be made through computer programs and not through mechanics in the future.

Adapted Text

Some new cars save gas

Gasoline prices are getting higher and higher. Drivers have to pay more to fill their cars with gas. The prices make it hard for drivers to afford the fuel. Some drivers are looking for solutions. They want to find a way to solve this problem. Car makers are also looking for lower gas prices.

One auto group hosted a special event. The event was designed to display new kinds of cars. The new cars don’t run on gasoline. Their engines are different. They run on alternative fuels.

These new kinds of cars burn many different kinds of fuel. Some of these cars are called hybrids. Hybrids run on a combination of gasoline and electricity. Other cars run on natural gas. Another kind of car runs on a special fuel cell. The cell is filled with a gas called hydrogen. All of these cars use less gasoline. That makes them less expensive for people to drive.

The fuel cell cars are also better in another way. They give off no emissions. They are very clean, and don’t give off bad fumes when they run. Cars that run on gasoline give off harmful fumes. These fumes pollute the air. Air pollution is very bad for the environment.

One man who makes fuel cell cars is excited about hydrogen fuel cell technology. He says we will never run out of the source of the fuel, but we may run out of oil. Oil is a fossil fuel, and comes from deep in the ground. Once we use it up, it will take millions of years for more oil to form. Since gasoline is made from oil, that could be a problem for companies who make traditional cars, and for drivers. However, it won’t be a problem for cars that run on fuel cells.

Many people are happy that they will have an alternative to gasoline cars, but they worry about the cost of fuel cell cars. Right now they are very expensive. One man says that if he buys a fuel cell car, he will have to drive it thousands of miles before he breaks even. Manufacturers say that fuel cell cars won’t be affordable for about ten years.

The manufacturer says that fuel cell cars will save drivers money in another way. Drivers will have to spend less money on maintenance. There are no big moving parts in the engine. If something goes wrong, an owner can plug a laptop into to check it out. Most repairs will be made by computer programs instead of mechanics.

Buses that run on hydrogen fuel cell power are being tested on the roads. They could become a common form of transportation in the near future.

Ex. 1. Choose the correct alternative (a-d) and translate the sentences into Russian.

1. Fuel cell cars do not give off any ♦.

a) electricity b)gasoline c) water d) emissions

2. Drivers are looking for ways to ♦ their fuel costs.

a) increase b) pollute c) lower d) raise

3. ♦ prices are getting higher and higher.

a) Automobile b) Fuel cell c) Hybrid d) Gasoline

4. Fuel cell cars can be fixed by a ♦.

a) computer program b) factory worker

c) good mechanic d) phone call

5. ♦ are cars that run on an engine and electricity.

a) Hybrids b) Traditionals c) Fuel Cells d) Alternatives

6. ♦ cars run on gasoline.

a) Future b) Fossil c) Alternative fuel d) Traditional

7. People are worried that we may run out of ♦.

a) gasoline b) mechanics c) oil d) cars

8. Fuel cells are filled with ♦.

a) electricity b) hydrogen c) natural gas d) gasoline

9. Some special new cars run on ♦ fuels.

a) oily b) traditional c) fossil d) alternative

10. Some people worry about the ♦ of fuel cell cars.

a) safety b) engines c) high cost d) tires

Ex. 2. What have you learnt?

1. Why are fuel cells better than gasoline engines for the future?

a) We can always make more oil.

b) Fuel cells cost less than gasoline.

c) There won't be any gas stations in the future.

d) We won't run out of hydrogen.

2. Why is it risky to keep making cars that run on gasoline?

a) Gasoline will come down in price.

b) Experts think we'll run out of oil some day.

c) Most people are allergic to gasoline.

d) Gasoline can burn too easily.

3. How will fuel cell cars save drivers money on maintenance?

a) The tires will never wear out.

b) Many mechanics will know how to work on them.

c) They don't require any maintenance at all.

d) They can be fixed with a computer program and laptop.

4. Why are car makers trying to solve this problem?

a) They want gasoline prices to come down.

b) They sell gasoline.

c) They don't care about drivers.

d) They want to sell more cars.

5. Why did one group host a special event?

a) To raise money for gasoline.

b) To show off cars that use alternative fuels.

c) To show off cars that run on gasoline.

d) To prove that traditional cars are great.

6. Why are alternative energy cars better for the environment?

a) Most people don't drive them as much.

b) They are quieter than traditional autos.

c) They don't wear out roads.

d) They don't give off harmful emissions.

7. What is people’s main worry about fuel cell cars?

a) That they won't run as well as traditional cars.

b) That fuel cells will only work for buses.

c) That they will explode.

d) That they will be too expensive to buy.

8. Why are people worrying about driving traditional cars?

a) Because the taxes are too high.

b) Because it's getting harder to buy a traditional car.

c) Because gasoline prices are rising rapidly.

d) Because traditional cars are not safe.

9. Why might mechanics be unhappy if many people buy fuel cell cars?

a) They don't know how to fix fuel cells.

b) They will be out of a job; drivers can fix them at home.

c) They don't like to drive fuel cell cars.

d) They will have too much work to do.

10. What do alternative fuel cars have in common?

a) They all run on fossil fuels.

b) They are all made by the same company.

c) They are all made in California.

d) They don't use gasoline.

Text C. Read the text and retell it in Russian.