A THREE-WHEELED ELECTRIC VAN.
Page 9
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Brief Details of a Small-capacity Delivery Unit which Popular in France.
SEVERAL Continental countries make much more use of electrically propelled vehicles than is the case in Great Britain or France. Even before 1914 there were in the streets of Berlin 475 taxis, 120 postal vans, and 60 fireengines equipped for electric power. At the present time German manufacturers are trying to boom small electric vehicles with one or two seats, and with a radius of action up to 100 kilning. and a speed of about 35 k.p.h. In most cases the batteries are placed under a bonnet in front, and the appearance of the vehicle is precisely the same as that of apetroldriven machine.
For some years little electric delivery vans of the type shown in an illustration on this page have been familiar in the streets of Paris, and have certainly stood up to their work and done -good service. It would be difficult to design a more simple vehicle, for it has only three wheels, and the motor is disposed over the steering head. It is series-wound for direct current, and the nominal power is h.p. The batteries are placed under the driver's seat, and coo/uprise 20 cells, giving a discharge rate of 180 amp.-hi. for 5 hrs. The road speed is limited to a maximum of 26 kiloms. per hour, and the total out-and-home distance that can be run on one charge is 50 kiloms.
The drive is by bevel pininos at the hub with a ratio of 15 to 48, and by spur wheel and pinion on the axle of the motor with a ratio of 1 to 62. The driving wheel and the rear wheels are the same diameten—of 710 mm. dimensions with 90 nom, tyres. Tho useful charge should not exceed 250 kilos., and the total weight of the vehicle in working order is 650 kilos. The chassis has a wheelbase of 2.5 metres, and the track of the rear wheels is 1.4 metres, whilst the overall length is 3.5 metres, A body 1.75 metres in length -by 0.90 metre in width can be mounted on this chassis.
It will be seen that the steering is a simple tiller. A foot and a hand brake both operate expanding segments in the real-wheel drums. A fairly long experience has shown that for short service on fairly good and level roads small electric delivery vans are successful in keeping down costs of upkeep and repairs.
The little 3-wheeler illustrated on-this page is giving way to a rather larger vehicle, which is being constructed by the same concern, with four wheels and at least double the capacity in both weight carried. and distance run on one charge. It is designed for a. speed of 40 k.p.h.