BBC Learning English

Words in the News

18th May 2011
Germany to invest in more electric cars

The German government has approved more money to help companies that build electric cars.
There are only around 2,500 electric vehicles registered on German roads at present. The
plan is to increase this figure to a million by 2020. Stephen Evans reports:

Germany plans to double financial aid, particularly to develop better, lighter batteries, which
remain the brake on the technology's mass appeal. Cars which emit virtually no carbon
dioxide will be exempt from tax.

Despite its green reputation, Germany has been slower than other countries, like Japan, to
develop electric cars.

It now aims to change this, but attitudes may be hard to change. It is a country where 'no
speed limits on the motorway' is seen as sacrosanct.

And it is the country of the BMW (car), though the luxury car-maker is now trying to develop
lighter materials to make its vehicles greener.

Stephen Evans, BBC News, Berlin

Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2011

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Vocabulary and definitions

financial aid help by giving money

the brake on the drawback or negative aspect of

mass appeal widespread popularity

emit lets out or sends out

exempt not required to do something

green reputation known for its commitment to environmentally-friendly

policies

to develop to design and manufacture

speed limits maximum speeds at which you are allowed to or can

legally drive on different roads

sacrosanct considered so important that it cannot be changed

materials equipment and substances which are used to make things

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Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2011

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