Now It's Transistorized Transport
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A 11-TON battery-electric vehicle, which offers approximately 15 per cent. extra
range, and needs no separate battery-charging equipment, was announced on Monday by Smith's Delivery Vehicles, Ltd. The vehicle demonstrated was a milk float with all-plastics body and integral chassis and platform, which will be shown in London at the Dairy Show next month.
A Transitruck ordered at present would cost £1,103 with battery, but without paint or extras. Sliding cab doors are offered for £38.
Smith's claim that, with the new design, smaller batteries are possible, there is no loss of current due to heating resistance, it can be recharged from any 13-amp. mains point in roughly 6 hours, 10-20 per cent. boost charges can be given in 1 to 2 hours, and that there is no wasteful starting resistance.
The new design embodies electronic equipment, the Sevcontroller and the Sevcharger, which have been developed by Joyce, Loebl, Ltd., of Gateshead, Co. Durham.
Briefly, the control unit (the Sevcontroller) utilizes a semi-conductor method of control by silicon controlled rectifiers and transistorized oscillators. It provides variable pulse current control, which enables smoother operation and reduces current peaks and is claimed to achieve an overall battery saving of 10 to 20 per cent.
The second half of the design is the charging unit (the Sevcharger), which is integral with the cab and is, in effect, a miniaturized constant current semi-conductor type of charger. It is fully automatic, is adjustable, and has a pre-set charging rate and termination. A Chloride battery is supplied with the Transitruck.