1. Summarise the BTN Story

Teacher Resource

Electric Cars

1. Summarise the BTN story.

2. Which country recently announced a ban on petrol and diesel cars?

3. When will the ban begin?

4. What did car company Volvo announce recently?

5. In which decade were electric cars introduced?

6. What are the advantages and disadvantages of petrol engines?

7. Which state recently announced it will have charging stations along a `super highway’?

8. Electric vehicles are cheaper to run and they’re cheaper to maintain. True or false?

9. What other energy sources are used to power cars?

10. Do you think Australia should phase out petrol and diesel powered cars? Give reasons for your answer.

Note taking

Students will practice their note-taking while watching the BTN Electric Cars story. After watching the story, ask students to reflect on and organise the information into three categories.

What information about this issue was...?

· Positive

· Negative or

· Interesting

Students may want to watch the story again or download a copy of the BTN Electric Cars transcript to assist them with this activity.

Clarify what students understand by the following terms:

· Hybrid cars

· Petrol powered

· Resource

· Greenhouse gases

· Air pollution

· Climate change

Class discussion

Students will investigate alternative energy sources used to power cars. The BTN story looked at electricity being used to power a car but other sources of energy are also being explored as potential ways to power cars of the future.

Ask students to discuss and make some predictions about the following:

· How could cars be improved? Why?

· Why are scientists and engineers researching ways to make cars better?

· Will attitudes about the use of fossil fuels (petrol and diesel) change over the next 50 years? Why?

· Why might we see changes to the way cars are powered?

Q&A

Make a list of 3 questions you have about electric cars that you would like to ask a scientist or engineer. Use the internet to find answers to your questions. Compare your questions and answers with your classmates. Below are some examples:

· How far can you drive on a single charge?

· What happens if you run out of charge and you’re not near a charging station?

· How will the batteries in electric cars be recycled?

Ask a Reporter

Ask Jack your questions about electric cars on BTNs Ask a Reporter, at 2:15pm (AEST) Friday 11th August 2017. Ask A Reporter provides students a chance to ask BTN reporters questions - directly to the reporter responsible for the story. Each Friday BTN will live stream a 20-30min Q&A session. Plus we always make time for a bit of fun!

BTN Electric Cars

Ask students to watch the BTN Electric Cars 2014 story and answer the following questions:

1. What was the main point of the Electric Cars story?

2. Around the turn of the last century, electric cars were quite popular. True or false?

3. Why did the internal combustion engine take over?

4. What are some disadvantages of petrol engines?

5. What has been one of the problems with electric cars in the past?

6. How has battery technology changed?

7. In which country are electric cars popular?

8. What do some people in Western Australia want councils to do?

9. What other energy sources are used to power cars?

10. What do you think is the future of electric cars? Explain your answer.

Persuasive text

Students will explore the use of new technologies and/or alternative fuels for our cars and then develop a persuasive text for or against the following statement: `Petrol powered cars should be banned in Australia’. Students need to weigh up the pros and cons of the issue then write a short persuasive argument stating why petrol-powered cars should or should not be banned in Australia.

Some issues to consider are:

· What is the environmental impact of petrol powered cars?

· What are some of the pros and cons of adopting new technologies to replace petrol-powered cars?

Provide students with the following structure to follow when completing this activity.

Car of the future

Before starting this activity hold a class discussion, asking students what sort of car they think they will be driving in 50 years’ time?

Students will then design an eco-friendly car of the future, with the aim to decrease air pollution. Students will consider the impact that vehicles have on our planet and then design a car that causes as little harm as possible to the environment. Students will need to consider the following:

· Provide a drawing of the car with labels to show its features.

· Choose a body size, engine size, fuel type and accessories.

· What speed will your car travel?

· What materials will be used to make your car?

· What are the interior and exterior features?

· What new technologies will you incorporate in your design?

· How will the car benefit people and the environment?

· Why is your design the best one for your community?

· Present your design to the class.

Look at some cars designed by students as part of an ABC Splash competition – Link here. Please note this competition is now closed.

BTN – Electric Cars

http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s4005252.htm

BTN – Hybrid Cars

http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s2275678.htm

BTN – Solar Cars

http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3343596.htm

ABC News – UK to ban sales of petrol and diesel cars from 2040 in pollution crackdown, reports say

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-26/uk-to-ban-sales-of-petrol-diesel-fuelled-cars-from-2040-reports/8744076

ABC News – Queensland electric car `super highway’ announced, with 18 fast charging locations

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-27/free-charging-stations-to-boost-queensland-electric-car-numbers/8748246