英単語（4/6）

リンク: NHK WORLD English.

Japan to step up measures for electric cars

Starting this April, the Japanese government plans to accelerate the use of environmentally friendly electric vehicles, through a series of incentive measures.

Electric cars are considered beneficial because they emit no carbon dioxide. However, their main drawback has been their limited range of about 150 kilometers. Their price is also higher than gasoline-powered cars.

As a model project, the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry says it will begin a campaign to promote the wider use of electric cars in 8 prefectures, including Tokyo and Kyoto.

Through the campaign, the ministry will subsidize about half of the price difference between an electric car and a gas-powered car.

It will also facilitate the establishment of electric car-charging outlets by covering part of the construction cost, which runs on average around 4 million yen, or 40,000 dollars.

The ministry also plans to discount parking fees for electric cars, in cooperation with local governments.

Over the next 5 years, the government plans to improve the efficiency of lithium-ion batteries by up to 50 percent, in order to extend the traveling range of vehicles.

By 2020, the ministry aims to increase the market share of next-generation cars to 50 % of total new car sales.

2009/04/06 06:16(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)

incentive：【形】刺激的な、奨励的な
　　　　　　【名】刺激、誘因、動機

drawback：【名】障害、不利、欠点

subsidize：【動】（政府が、私企業、団体等に奨励金）を払う
　　　　　　　　　（助成金を出して）支援する

facilitate：【動】容易にする、促進する