An Electric Three-wheeler of Novel Design WE are now able
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to give full parr,' ticulars of the new Morrison 8-10cwt battery-electric three-wheeler, which was announced in last week's issue of The Commercial Motor. It is named by its maker, A. E. Morrison and Sons, Ltd., Leicester, the " elec-4 tric horse,' and in many ways the design breaks new ground. Of chief interest is the power-Plant mounting and the driving mechanism. The 36volt 185-ampere-hour battery is sufficiently large, it is claimed, to give a range: of from 30 to 40 miles with a maximum vehicle speed of 18 mph.
Frame Construction.
The main frame is built up of two angularly placed channels with a tubular longitudinal centre member. To the forward extremities of the channel members, a steel pressing is attached which is upswept to carry the steering head for the -single front wheel, the bearings for the head being of the Timken roller type with an easily accessible adjusting nut. Attached to the head spindle is a forked adaptor, carrying the motor at the top and a. quarter-elliptic spring at the bottom, the extremity of the spring being coupled to the front driving whsei through the medium of a stirrup and a shackle.
The motor drives a countershaft through a fin.-pitch triple roller chain, and from the countershaft further drive to the front wheel is effected by a 1-in.-pitch chain of similar type. Rigidity for the whole structure is maintained by suitably Stiffened chain-cases, the webbing for which will be seen in an accompanying. illustra
tion. Steering is effected by swinging levers and a drag link in the normal manner, the final lever being attached to the top of the steering head. Incorporated in the upswept pressing, running, from the main frame to the steering head, is a reversing switch and a drum controller, the necessary handles for their operation being arranged on the right of the pressing so that they come readily to the left hand of the driver who is, of course, seated on the off side of the vehicle.
The batteries are accommodated on trays slung from the channels of the main frame, and so placed that Om wiring is relatively short.
Cables run from a set of terminals on the reversing switch and controller to a corresponding set on the motor. special flexible cable being used in order to allow for the movement of the steering head.
Easy Removal of Motor.
In the event of a motor or transmission failure, the steering-head spindle can be removed, when by 'uncoupling the necessary wiring, the motor complete with the transmission system can be wheeled away from the machine as a unit. Replacement of a spare is a matter of only a few minutes, so that owners of fleets of these electric " horses " could, by carrying one or two spare wheel assemblies, Iree.p their vehicles on the road alrnost.inc.essantly.
With regard to the rest of the mechanical specification, a squaie-sectioned rear axle is suspended on semielliptic springs, and there are Bendix brakes to all three wheels. The handlever applies the shoes in the drum on the front wheel, whilst the pedal applies only the brakes on the rear wheels. One-shot or grease-gun lubrication can be fifted. In chassis form the price works out at £160, whilst vans are available from £175.
In addition to the vehicle's attractive features—accessibility, easy replacement of major components, etc..— which have already been outlined, the big steering dock, manoeuvrability and general handiness give it a definite advantage over the four-wheeled type.