Bedford plugs in
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BEDFORD is set to become the first European manufacturer to offer an on-line-built, electrically powered, one-tonne panel van, the electric CF. It goes into regular production in the autumn of 1983„ reports TIM BLAKEMORE.
The medium van production line at Vauxhall's Luton plant is currently being adapted to the new model.
Bedford's market surveys have indicated that the demand for electrically powered vehicles of this weight will continue to increase. Des Savage, Bedford's marketing director, predicts first year sales of the electric CF with confidence.
"We will be looking for over 200 sales in our first year but expect a high rate of growth as advancing technology brings down component costs. We estimate the potential market to rise to 10,000 in the UK by the end of the decade, which represents 20 per cent of the current one tonne van market," he says.
It is likely that Freight Rover will soon follow Bedford in offering a "standard" electrically powered van. Earlier this year, 20 electric Sherpas were built by the BL subsidiary on the normal Sherpa production line and they are undergoing a year's customer trial. If the trials are successful then volume production will almost certainly follow.
Vauxhall Motors has been collaborating with Lucas in the development of the drive system for the past six years, and a number of electric CFs have been on extended trials with major fleet operators. Both the Bedford and the Freight Rover van use the same Lucas Chloride battery pack, traction motor and control system.
The 216-volt lead-acid battery pack comprises 36 six-volt units housed in a detachablisteel tray suspended beneath the chassis. The traction motor is a direct current type with an output of around 40kW.
The motor is mounted longitudinally at the rear of the vehicle, below the floor, and drives the rear wheels through a high-efficiency primary reduction unit, coupled to a rearward facing conventional rear axle via a short prop-shaft.
Under the bonnet where the conventional van's engine is located, is the control system, on a subframe which also houses the heater, converter and other electrical ancillaries.
The Lucas controller consists of a combined armature and field control system, and provides a means of smoothly adjusting vehicle speed, including slow speed manoeuvring, to suit various operating conditions. Interlocks and fuses give protection against driver abuse and malfunction.
The cortroller includes a regenerative braking system, brought into operation when the accelerator pedal is released, and the braking force provided by this is enough to allow the conventional hydraulic brakes to be used only a little for normal driving.
When the brake pedal is partially depressed, the regenerative braking force increases progressively. Further depression of the brake pedal operates the conventional servo-assisted brakes. Vacuum for this system is produced by an electric pump. The electric CF van is based on the CF 250 model but with a gvw increased from 2,500kg (2.46 tons) to 3,500kg (3.45 tons) to give a payload potential of approximately 1,000kg (19.7cwt).
Maximum speed is 80km/h (50mph) and acceleration time from 0-30mph is claimed to be about 11 seconds. The vehicle has a range with city driving of 80-97km (50-60 miles) and its fuel (electricity) cost is reckoned to be around 2p per mile.