Switch to battery bus plans
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Acquisition by Renault and Saviem of 20 and 25 per cent respectively of the share capital of the Societe Sovel brings closer the implementation of plans for the full-scale production of electric goods and passenger vehicles at the Sovel plant near Lyon. The injection of new funds will also mean that earlier Saviem experiments with battery electric and hybrid diesel/electric vehicles will benefit the Sovel project.
This company — other firms having an interest are Semat (25 per cent), CEM-Oerlikon (20 per cent) and Electricite de France — EDF —(10 per cent) — has had considerable experience in the design and construction of electric vehicles since before the war. It is now the sole manufacturer of heavy electric vehicles on the Continent and has recently completed a number of bus prototypes for evaluation in public service.
The AS — 09 vehicle originally demonstrated two years ago in Clermont-Ferrand was subsequently modified for a shuttle service in the satellite town of Evry. Passenger capacity of the 7.3 m long vehicle is 30, with 22 seats. Chopper control for the main driving circuit ensures exceptional smooth starting characteristics. With 192V lead acid battery packs weighing 2,200 kg placed in two removeable containers between the axles the unladen weight of the AS-09 is 7,120 kg. The series-wound 49 hp motor gives the bus a maximum speed of 50 km/h. Operating range is 75km at an average speed of 35 km/h.
A larger vehicle now being prepared for tests — the 3 TI—can carry 50 passengers at a speed of 60 km/h. The new vehicle alsp has specially designed bodywork for urban service including automatically controlled doors. Long-term objective of the Saviem-backed Sovel programme is to produce a 100-passenger electric bus with an operating range of 200 km/h.