REAL-LIFE SKILLS 5. Read the given information, then discuss and decide which type of electric vehicle would best suit either your personal or your family’s requirements. Give a reason for your choices. If necessary, go online to help you with your research. Consider the following questions: Are you looking for a small passenger car, a SUV, a minivan, a station wagon, or a pick-up? Where do you usually drive? City or highway? How many km per month? Do you commute daily, for example, to and from work and school, or longer journeys? What is your budget? Where are the charging points? What are the running costs? What is the lifetime of the battery? What are the maintenance costs? How much can you save on fuel costs? Electric vehicles pros and cons over petrol/diesel vehicles PROS CONS Cheap running costs with recharging Expensive purchase cost Being less expensive than refuelling Limited range Zero road tax or congestion charge Recharging can take time Cheaper to maintain Range anxiety Long lifespan Zero emissions and more eco-friendly There are three types of electric vehicle on the market these days: All-electric Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) Conventional, non-plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) BEVs PHEVs HEVs All-electric Part electric, part traditional ICE engine Traditional engine + very small battery Powered just by a large battery Powered by both a medium-size battery and a petrol/diesel engine Powered by a petrol/diesel engine + some support from the battery Fill with electricity only (no petrol or diesel) Fill with electricity and petrol or diesel Fill with petrol/diesel only Best for the environment Helps the environment (if charged daily) Few environmental benefits Greatest fuel savings Moderate fuel savings (again, if charged daily) Minor fuel savings Battery range average range of 300 km. Battery range drops considerably when it is cold outside and at high speeds. BEVs typically have a battery range of 35-65 km and you can fall the petrol/diesel engine when the battery runs out. PHEVs back on run on petrol/diesel, so you just fill up with fuel as normal and range is not an issue. HEVs GLOSSARY : : to fall back on fare affidamento running cost costo di gestione