Solar Panel Trees for Charging Electric Vehicles (Free ESL Lesson)

Lesson made on May 31, 2023

- Download Printable Lesson (PDF)

- Download Printable Answer Key (PDF)

Reading Lesson:

A UK company named SolarBotanic Trees is creating cool metal "trees" that work like solar panels. These trees are 7 meters tall and have a round top full of small solar panel "leaves" that catch the sun's energy. The company made these solar trees to provide a way to charge electric cars. They hope to start selling these trees by the end of this year.

Electric cars are becoming more common in the UK, and there are over 40,000 public charging spots available. But this isn't enough! Experts think that by 2032, they’ll need 325,000 charging points to keep up with the number of electric cars.

Raw Charging Group, a company that sets up places for people to charge their electric cars, has already ordered 200 of these trees. They plan to use them all over the UK and Europe.

The trees don't just work well – they look nice, too. Other companies have made solar-powered carports, but they're not as pretty. Solar trees have been used before in places like Singapore and Dubai, and they've been a big hit.

Each solar tree will have a special computer system to manage the energy it collects. This system can connect multiple trees together or connect to the national power grid. This way, any extra energy the tree makes can be used elsewhere. The company also plans to put a battery in the tree trunk to store any extra energy made during the day. This means the tree can keep charging cars even when there's no sun.

Comprehension Questions:

Speaking and Writing Activities:

- Discuss these questions with a partner or a small group.

- Choose one topic and write a response to it. Show your writing to a classmate or teacher.

What do you think about the concept of using solar "trees" to charge electric cars?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of electric cars compared to gasoline cars?

If you could go on a trip to London, Dubai, or Singapore, which would you choose and why?

More Reading Practice:

Why is solar energy important?

One of the main reasons solar energy is important is because it's renewable. This means it won't run out like other resources such as oil or coal. These resources, often called fossil fuels, took millions of years to form under the Earth's surface, so when we use them up, they're gone for good. On the other hand, the sun sends us more than enough energy each day, and it's going to keep shining for billions of years.

Another reason solar energy is important is that it's clean. When we burn fossil fuels to make electricity, it releases harmful gases into the air, which contribute to air pollution and climate change. But with solar energy, we can make electricity without any pollution or greenhouse gases. It's a much healthier option for our planet.

Solar energy is also becoming more affordable, which is important because it means more people can use it. As technology continues to improve, the cost of solar panels (which are used to capture sunlight and convert it into electricity) is going down. This makes solar energy a good choice not just for the environment, but also for our wallets.

Lastly, using solar energy can help us be more energy independent. This means we don't have to rely as much on other countries for our energy needs, which can make our energy supply more secure.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of electric cars?

Electric cars are becoming more popular than ever, and it's easy to see why. They come with a lot of perks, but like everything else in life, they have their downsides too.

One of the best things about electric cars is that they don't use gas. Instead, they run on electricity which you can get from any regular outlet at home or from charging stations that are popping up in many public places. This means no more weekly stops at the gas station and a lot of saved money over time. Plus, electricity is usually cheaper than gas, and it can even be free if you use solar panels!

But wait, there's more! Electric cars are great for the environment. Regular cars burn gas and release carbon dioxide, a gas that's harmful to our planet because it contributes to global warming. Electric cars, on the other hand, don't produce tailpipe emissions at all. By driving one, you're doing your part to help keep our planet clean and healthy.

So, are electric cars just perfect? Well, not exactly. They do come with a few challenges.

First off, while charging an electric car might be cheaper than filling up a gas tank, it takes much longer. Imagine waiting for hours to "fill up" your car instead of just a few minutes at the gas station.

Also, even though more charging stations are being built every day, they're still not as common as gas stations. This means if you're going on a long trip, you need to carefully plan your route to make sure there's a charging station when you need one.

And then there's the price. Electric cars can be more expensive to buy than regular cars. While you might save money on gas over time, the initial cost could be a big hurdle for some people.

Finally, electric car batteries, just like the batteries in your smartphone or laptop, will wear out over time. Replacing them can be quite expensive.

Helpful Links:

SolarBotanic Trees Official Website

Free ESL Lesson about climate protesters in Rome, Italy

Free ESL Lesson about car tires dumped in the ocean by the Florida coast

More Free Lessons at ESLFrog.com