History of eleсtric motor vehicle

Electric motive power started with a small railway operated by a miniature electric motor, built by Thomas Davenport in 1835. In 1838, a Scotsman named Robert Davidson built an electric locomotive that attained a speed of four miles per hour (6km/h). In England a patent was granted in 1840 for the use of rails as conductors of electric current and similar American patent was issued to Lilley and Cohen in 1847.

 

Between 1832 and 1839 (the exact year is uncertain), Robert Anderson of Scotland invented the first crude electric carriage powered by non-rechargeable primary cells.

 

By the 20^th century, electric cars and rail transport were commonplace, with commercial electric automobiles having the majority of the market. Over time their general- purpose commercial use reduced to special roles as platform trucks, forklift trucks and urban delivery vehicles, such as the iconic British milk float; for most of the 20^th century, the UK was the world’s largest user of electric road vehicles.

 

Electrified trains were used for coal transport as the motors did not use precious oxygenin the mines. Switzerland’s lack of natural fossil resources forced the rapid electrificationof their rail network. One of the earliest rechargeable batteries – the Nickel-iron battery – was favored by Edison for use of electric cars.

 

Electric vehicles were among the earliest automobiles, and before the preeminence of light, powerful internal combustion engines, electric automobiles held many vehicle land speed and distance record in the early 1900s. They were produced by Baker Electric, Columbia Electric, Detroit Electric, and others and at one point in history out-sold gasoline-powered vehicles.

 

Nowadays, electric vehicles are hitting the mainstream.

 

All major carmakers, such as Daimler AG, Toyota Motor Corp, General Motors Corp, Renault SA, Peugeot-Citroen VW and Mitsubishi Corp., are developing new-generation electric vehicles.

 

Study the vocabulary of the text below.

1. electric motive power	cредства передвижения работающие на электричестве
2. miniature electric motor	электродвигатель
3. electric locomotive	электровоз
4. conductor of electric current	проводник электрического тока
5. to issue/to grant a patent	выдавать патент
6. to invent	изобретать, создавать
7. сrude electric carriage	экспериментальная электрическая машина
8. non-rechargeable primary cells	незаряжаемые электрические ячейки, производящие ток посредством необратимой химической реакции
9. commonplace	обычное явление
10. commercial electric automobiles	серийные электромобили
11. platform truck	грузоподъёмник с платформой
12. forklift trucks	автопогрузчик, вилочный погрузчик
13.urban delivery vehicles	городское транспортное средство доставки
14. preeminence	преимущество, первенство
15. lack	отсутствие, недостаток
16. rail network	сеть железнодорожных путей
17. media campaign	кампания, проводимая СМИ
18. public acceptance	принятие (товара, идеи) общественностью
19. outsold	самые продаваемые
20. hit the mainstream	бить рекорды

Comprehension

2.4 Answer the following questions:

1. When was a miniature electric motor built? Who was the author of this invention?
2. What was built by Robert Davidson in 1838?
3. A patent for the use of rails as conductors of electric current was granted in 1840 in the USA, wasn’t it?
4. Who invented the first crude electric carriage and when?
5. Why were electric cars and rail transport commonplace?
6. What was the purpose of electrified trains?
7. What vehicles were among the earliest automobiles?
8. What main manufacturers of the electric automobiles appeared in early 1900s?
9. Are electric vehicles hitting the mainstream nowadays?
10. What carmakers are developing a new generation of electric vehicles nowadays?

 

2.5 Decide if the statements are true (T) or false (F). Read the Text to check your answers:

1. The electric motive power started with a big space operated by a giant electric engine built by Edison in 1840.
2. In 1838 an American named Robert Davidson built a fuel locomotive that attained a speed of 10 miles per hour (12 km/hour).
3. Between 1832 and 1839 Robert Anderson of Scotland invented one of the best vehicles in the world powered by non-rechargeable Primary cells.
4. By the 20^th century electric cars and rail transport were a rare phenomenon in the car industry.
5. Electrified trains were used for water transport.
6. Switzerland’s availability of natural fossil resources forced the rapid electrificationof their rail network.
7. All major carmakers, such as Daimler AG, Toyota Motor Corp, General Motors Corp, Renault SA, Peugeot-Citroen VW and Mitsubishi Corp., are suspending developing new-generation of electric vehicles.

Vocabulary development

2.6. Match the words in order to get the pairs of synonyms:

1. to issue a patent	a. to create
2. to attain a speed	b. to grant a patent
3. to invent	c. to achieve a speed, to reach a speed
4. public acceptance	d. engine
5. media campaign	e. license, certificate
6. motor	f. to decrease
7. to reduce	g. press campaign

 

2.7 Match the words in order to get the pairs of antonyms:

1. miniature	a. increase
2. commercial	b. availability
3. reduce	c. single produced
4. lack	d. not ordinary phenomenon, unusual
5. commonplace	e. rechargeable
6. non-rechargeable	f. rural delivery vehicles
7.urban delivery vehicles	g. giant

2.8. Fill in the gaps:

Electric locomotive, commonplace, miniature, preeminence, crude electric carriage, commercial, platform trucks, forklift trucks, rechargeable primary cells, iconic British milk float, out-sold gasoline-powered vehicles, conductors of electric current, internal combustion engines.

1. Electric motive power started with a small railway operated by a ………. electric motor, built by Thomas Davenport in 1835.

2. In 1838, a Scotsman named Robert Davidson built an ………… that attained a speed of four miles per hour (6km/h).

3. In England a patent was granted in 1840 for the use of rails as ……………...

4. Between 1832 and 1839 (the exact year is uncertain), Robert Anderson of Scotland invented the first …………………, powered by ………………....

5. By the 20^th century, electric cars and rail transport were …………., with ……………electric automobiles having the majority of the market.

6. Over time their general- purpose commercial use reducedto special roles as ……………, ……………..and urban delivery vehicles, such as the …………………;

7. Electric vehicles were among the earliest automobiles, and before ……..of light, powerful …………….. electric automobiles held many vehicle land speed and distance record in the early 1900s.

8. They were produced by Baker Electric, Columbia Electric, Detroit Electric, and others and at one point in history ………

2.9 Match the words from two columns to make word combinations:

1. electric motive	a. mainstream
2. to attain	b. speed
3. to Hit	c. electrical carriage
4. crude	d. power
5. rail	e. primary cells
6. non-rechargeable	f. network

2.10 Complete the sentences:

1. Electric motive power started with a small railway operated by ……….

2. In England the patent was granted………….

3. Between 1832 and 1839 (the exact year is uncertain), …………

4. By the 20^th century, electric cars and rail transport were ……….

5. Over time their general- purpose commercial use …………..

6. Electrified trains ………..

7. Switzerland’s lackof natural fossil resources ………..

8. Electric vehicles were among …………..

9. Nowadays, electric vehicles …………….

10. All major …………….

Speaking

Summarize the text.

Grammar revision