英語学習

英語ニュース教材：EV sales surge in the U.S. ahead of Sept. 30 tax credit deadline（Intermediate レベル）

 

Contents

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

In the United States, there has been a significant increase in sales of electric vehicles (EVs) as the deadline for a federal tax credit approaches. This tax credit, offering up to $7,500, is available for those who lease or purchase an electric vehicle. However, to qualify, the contracts must be finalized by midnight on September 30. This deadline has caused a rush among consumers wanting to benefit from the credit, leading to a temporary surge in EV sales.

The tax credit is part of the government’s effort to encourage more people to switch to environmentally friendly transportation options. By providing financial incentives, the government hopes to make electric vehicles more affordable and appealing to the general public. This move is also aligned with broader environmental goals to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.

However, the rush to buy or lease electric vehicles before the deadline has resulted in some market distortion. With many consumers eager to take advantage of the tax credit, demand for EVs has temporarily spiked. This has led to increased sales, but it might not reflect a sustainable trend in the longer term. Some experts worry that once the deadline passes, sales might drop, which could create challenges for car manufacturers and dealerships.

The situation highlights the impact of government policies on consumer behavior and market trends. While tax incentives can boost sales and promote green technology, they can also create fluctuations in the market. It remains to be seen how the EV market will adjust after the deadline and whether the increased interest in electric vehicles will continue without the lure of the tax credit.

📝 Vocabulary

  • deadline: the latest time or date by which something should be completed（締め切り）
    例文: “The deadline for submitting the project is tomorrow.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • meet a deadline
    • set a deadline
    • extend a deadline
  • tax credit: a reduction in the amount of tax that has to be paid（税控除）
    例文: “They received a tax credit for installing solar panels.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • qualify for a tax credit
    • claim a tax credit
    • receive a tax credit
  • surge: a sudden increase in amount or number（急増）
    例文: “There was a surge in demand for new smartphones.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • surge in demand
    • surge in interest
    • surge in prices
  • environmentally friendly: not harmful to the environment（環境に優しい）
    例文: “Electric cars are considered to be more environmentally friendly than gasoline cars.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • environmentally friendly products
    • environmentally friendly practices
    • environmentally friendly technology
  • emission: the act of sending out gas, heat, light, etc.（排出）
    例文: “The factory is working to reduce its carbon emissions.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • carbon emissions
    • reduce emissions
    • control emissions

✏️ Grammar Point

Conditional Sentences (Type 1) – “However, to qualify, the contracts must be finalized by midnight on September 30.”

文法の日本語補足を見る
条件を表す文で、現在の事実や可能性に基づいて未来の出来事を予測する構文

💡 使用場面

条件が満たされた時に起こる可能性のある未来の出来事を述べる際に使用されます。

📝 使用例文

“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”

❓ Listening Questions

  1. True/False: The tax credit is available for electric vehicles purchased after September 30.
  2. MCQ: What is the purpose of the government’s tax credit for EVs?
    a) To increase gas prices
    b) To encourage the use of environmentally friendly vehicles
    c) To decrease vehicle prices overall
    d) To limit the number of cars sold
  3. MCQ: What concern do experts have about the EV market after the deadline?
    a) Prices will increase dramatically
    b) Sales will drop significantly
    c) More incentives will be introduced
    d) Consumers will switch back to gasoline cars
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
  1. False
  2. b) To encourage the use of environmentally friendly vehicles
  3. b) Sales will drop significantly

📚 Reading Questions

  1. What is causing the surge in electric vehicle sales in the U.S.?
  2. Why do some experts worry about the sustainability of the EV market?
  3. What does the word “distortion” mean in the context of the market?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る

    🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

    アメリカでは、9月30日までに契約が締結された電気自動車の購入やリースに対し、最大7,500ドルの税控除が提供されることから、EVの販売が急増しています。この税控除は、環境に優しい交通手段への移行を促進する政府の取り組みの一環です。しかし、この期限に向けた駆け込み需要が市場に一時的な歪みを生じさせており、期限後の販売減少が懸念されています。日本においても、環境対策としてのEV普及を促進するための政策が求められていますが、同様の市場変動への注意が必要です。将来的に、持続的なEV市場の成長を支えるための包括的な政策が重要となるでしょう。

    Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/09/30/nx-s1-5557153/ev-tax-credit-sales-spike

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