BTS Groupement 9
Domotique
Fluides, énergies, environnements
Informatique et réseaux pour l'industrie et les services techniques
Systèmes électroniques
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Henry
Ford began producing his Model T for the masses in 1908. Now comes the
environmentally friendly G-Wiz. Keith Johnson, managing director of
GoinGreen, began selling the Indian-made "electriCity" car in
Britain last summer. Electric cars are not new, of course. The first
electric prototype was built in Scotland way back in the 1830s.
Carmakers have been experimenting with electric vehicles ever since,
especially in the years following the first oil crisis in 1973. What
makes the G-Wiz different is its ease of use and clever energy
management system. Powered by eight 6-volt lead-acid batteries, the
micro-coupé can be recharged by plugging it into a standard electric
outlet. "It's tried and true technology," says Keith Johnson.
To really cut down on greenhouse gases, though, G-Wiz owners will have
to source power from a renewable supply – otherwise, the fact that the
G-Wiz produces no emissions will be cancelled by emissions from a
polluting power station. While other car manufacturers have concentrated
on building a better battery, the Reva Electric Car Co., which
manufactures the G-Wiz in Bangalore, has spent seven years developing
technologies to make sure its car extracts maximum performance from
existing batteries. The G-Wiz has "regenerative braking", for
example, which captures friction heat every time the car brakes and
converts it into electricity. Body panels of "no-dent plastic"
are as lightweight as they are tough. With
a top speed of 64 km/h and a range of just 64 km, the tiny four-seater's
appeal is limited. Indeed, London sales have just topped 200, while some
800 cars have been sold in India. The car sells for $13,440 in Britain
and should be available in parts of Europe by the end of the year.
Initial buyers are "classic early adopters," says Johnson:
high earners purchasing it as a second or third car for commuting to
work. To keep pricing keen, GoinGreen relies entirely on online sales to
avoid the expense of a dealership network, and doesn't advertise or
print brochures. For buyers, real savings come later. GoinGreen
estimates the cost of operating the car is about a penny a mile, the
equivalent to 600 m.p.g. Like other electric vehicles, the G-Wiz is also
exempt from London's congestion zone charges ($9.60 a day, increasing to
$15.40 in July), and can park for free on central city streets. A
second-generation G-Wiz, available in early 2006, will hit speeds of
around 80 km/h and have a range of 120 km, while a jazzy-looking
roadster convertible known as the NXG that the company promises will
reach speed of 120 km/h and roam for 200 km should follow later in the
year. These speeds and range are a big improvement, but still a long way
short of petrol and diesel-driven motors. Adapted
from 'Time', May 9, 2005 A
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Voici quatre titres; associez
chacun d'entre eux au paragraphe auquel il convient le mieux : (4
pts) a)
The
commercial aspect:
§
n° ...............
b)
The
evolution of cars : § n° ............... c)
An
ever improving technology . § n° ............... d) The G-wiz of the future : § n° ............... B - Complétez les tableaux avec des informations tirées du texte : (5 pts)
C
- Complétez le tableau avec des éléments tirés du texte qui
illustrent chacune des rubriques
D
- Dites si les affirmations suivantes sont vraies ou fausses, et
justifiez votre réponse en citant le texte.
(6
pts) a)
The G-Wiz is an eco-friendly vehicle, no matter what energy source is
used b)
The G-Wiz is a great success. c)
Buyers so far have been people with large incomes. d)
To sell more cars, GoinGreen wants commercials for the G-Wiz everywhere. e)
The G-Wiz costs less to operate than a petrol-powered car. f)
Electric cars will soon go as far and as fast as petrol-powered cars. E
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Traduisez le passage suivant: de
"What makes the G-Wiz
different is ... "
(l.7) à « ...power from a renewable supply
"
(1.
11) (6 pts) Il-
EXPRESSION (8
pts) Répondez
en anglais aux questions suivantes : (150
mots) What
are in your own words the advantages and the drawbacks of the
G-Wiz as it is presented in the text. In your opinion which other
methods of energy production will be the most popular in the future?
Justify your answer. (Mention
the number of words at the end of your essay.)
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