Connected Cars on the Highway to the Future

Modern automobiles and their drivers are becoming connected through wireless technology to entertainment and information systems. VOA recently visited the Los Angeles Auto Show. We found that high-priced, luxury cars, like BMW, are attempting to become friendly to the environment.

This car, an electric i3 model, is made with lightweight carbon fiber. It also has the latest electronic devices to make driving safer.

The i3 includes a camera that lets the driver see the area directly behind the car. It is equipped with automated parking assistance and collision avoidance systems.

Theresa Moriarty works for BMW. She says the i3 is equipped with automatic braking. Stopping or slowing down the car adds power to its battery.

"Any time you're not accelerating, the regenerative braking kicks on and the car will slow, adding some energy back to your battery."

"Blue tooth is connecting."

Another auto-maker -- General Motors -- has developed a high-tech system for a hybrid version of its Cadillac model. Power for the car comes from gasoline, a traditional fuel, and electricity.

Stuart Fowle works for General Motors. He says the high-tech system lets the driver start the car from a distance. It also lets the driver see how the vehicle is operating from halfway arouind the world.

"(The) smart phone app we have allows you to check your tire pressures, check your oil level or your, your oil life. It allows you to check your fuel level, how much range you have on that tank of fuel."

For operators of many vehicles, technology connects cars and trucks on the road. Joshua Turner works at a company called Sprint Velocity, which helps create those connections.

"If, for instance, a, a fleet vehicle were to experience a flat tire, the, the system in the vehicle would be able to transmit that to the appropriate repair technician, and then also alert the fleet management when that, that vehicle was able to come back online."

Cars can already tell drivers about nearby fuel stations and gasoline prices. Airbiquity sells online vehicle services in 50 countries. David Jumpa works for the company. He says cars will soon be able to share information with each other.

"Information that there's ice on the road ahead, right, based on the information the previous car, you know, just passed on."

Vehicles cannot yet talk to one another. But David Jumpa says they will be able to in the future.

词汇解析

wireless

难度：2星扩展词汇，属常用10000词

英汉解释

adj.无线的

n.无线电

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

Hardware is expensive in the wireless world.

在无线的世界中硬件相当昂贵。

用作名词 (n.)

I was then listening in on the wireless.

这时我正在听广播。

entertainment

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.娱乐

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

There are few entertainments in that town.

那个镇上几乎没有娱乐设施。

Wrestling is in a twilight zone between sport and entertainment.

摔跤是介於运动和娱乐两者之间的活动。

luxury

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.奢侈品;奢侈;豪华

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The increasing sale of luxury goods is an index of the country's prosperity.

奢侈商品销售量日增是该国繁荣的标志。

electric

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.电的;电动的;带电的;刺激的

n.电动产品

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

The solar cell can convert the energy of sunlight into electric energy.

太阳能电池能把阳光的能量转化为电能。

The atmosphere here tonight is absolutely electric.

今晚这里的气氛是完全令人兴奋的。

用作名词 (n.)

The lawn mower is an electric.

割草机是电动的机器。

carbon

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.碳;复写纸;复本;碳精棒

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

Carbon dioxide consists of carbon and oxygen.

二氧化碳是由碳和氧组成的。

automatic

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

adj.自动的;无意识的;必然的

n.自动装置;半自动武器

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

This heating system has an automatic temperature control.

这个暖气系统有自动化的温度调节系统。

用作名词 (n.)

Cranking-motor controls have varied from a simple foot-operated pedal to automatic devices that close the cranking-motor circuit when the accelerator pedal is depressed.

控制起动电机的方式已从一个简单的脚踏板改为压下加速踏板即可自动接通起动电机电路的自动装置。

range

难度：5星基本词汇，属常用1000词

英汉解释

n.范围;射程;山脉;排;一系列;闲逛;炉灶;【数】值域，极差

v.排列;使…站在某一方;延伸;漫游;射程达到(某距离)

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

A range of buildings have sprung up along the river.

沿河建起了一排楼房。

用作动词 (v.)

The spectators ranged themselves along the route of the procession.

观众沿游行队伍的路线列队停立。

transmit

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

vt.传达;传染;传送;代代相传

vi.(以无线电或有线电的方式)发送信号

参考例句

用作及物动词 (vt.)

Gypsies frequently transmit recipes orally within the family.

吉普赛人经常以口头形式把秘方世代相传。