国内のEV（電気自動車）乗用車の販売台数が前年同期比で2倍余に　日本自動車販売協会連合会などのまとめで、2026年1月から6月に国内で売れたEV乗用車は59337台、前年の同じ時期のおよそ2.1倍で、新車の乗用車に占める割合は約3%と過去最高に　一番売れたのはトヨタのSUV「bZ4X」で13777台、メーカーの新型車投入と国の購入補助金の拡充が追い風

Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. Today is July sixteenth. Sales of electric cars in Japan have more than doubled in the first half of this year. Let's listen.

Now let's break it down, sentence by sentence.

In the first half of this year, the number of electric cars sold in Japan rose to more than double the same period last year.

It means an electric vehicle, a car that runs on electricity.

According to a group that tracks car sales, 59,337 EV passenger cars were sold in the country from January to June.

It means the number of units sold.

That is about 2.1 times the same period last year, a very big increase.

It means growth or an increase.

Among all new passenger cars sold, EVs made up about 3 percent, a record high.

It means a proportion or percentage.

This car sold about 69 times more than the same period last year and became very popular.

It means popularity.

One reason EVs began selling well is that makers released new cars one after another.

It means an announcement or release.

Another reason is that the government increased the subsidies it gives to people who buy EVs.

It means a subsidy, money the government gives to help with a purchase.

Still, EVs are only about 3 percent of all passenger cars, and gasoline cars are far more common.

It means a passenger car.

Few places to charge EVs, and the high price of the cars, are said to be challenges going forward.

It means charging, filling a battery with electricity.

Even so, attention is growing over whether EVs, as cars that are kind to the environment, will keep increasing.

It means the environment.

Let's listen to the whole story one more time.

Time for a short quiz. Listen and try to answer.

About 59,337 units.

Toyota's SUV, the bZ4X.

Makers released many new models, and the government increased purchase subsidies.

That's all for today. EV sales in Japan more than doubled in the first half of the year, reaching about sixty thousand units and a record three percent of new passenger cars, led by Toyota's bZ4X, thanks to new models and bigger government subsidies. Thanks for listening, and see you tomorrow.