Electrics in Force
Page 41
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at the Dairy Show BATTERY ELECTRIC vehicle makers scored at the Dairy Show held at Olympia, London, last week.
Although fewer manufacturers weie represented, there were more batteryelectrics shown than ever before, and the customary display of ice-cream sales vehicles, trailers and petrol-engined milk floats was noticeably absent. The range of battery-electrics was comprehensiVe and included a pedestrian-controlled unit, three-wheelers, small, medium-sized and lam open dairy models and a fully stocked mobile grocery shop constructed for self-service.
The smallest vehicle was the Lancaster Lusty 12-cwt. four-wheeler designed for dairy rounds which are outside the scope of a pedestrian-controlled unit, but not requiring the range or speed of the larger driven models. It can carry 24 crates of milk and is offered with a 20-cell battery, affording a range of 12 miles at 8 m.p.h., or a 30-cell battery giving a 15-mile range at 11 m.p.h. The motor, steering and other units are common to larger Lancaster models, but industrial disctype wheels are employed with 18-in. by 4i-in. tyres.
The Helecs Intruder Series II, 25-cwt. chassis, described in "The Commercial Motor" on October 19, made its initial appearance. It had an open dairy body with an exceptionally deep windscreen, giving better visibility immediately ahead of the vehicle, and a longer steering-column tube to improve access to the driving position. A Tough Ten chassis was also displayed.
The Morrison Electricar range was complete from 10-cwt. chassis to 30-cwt. open milk float. The 10-cwt model is equipped for long range, but, by adjustment of battery size, the load can be increased by steps up to 18 cwt. This, of course, affects the range, but such a vehicle is popular on shortestate rounds.
Likewise, the 20-cwt. model has a long range, but with reduced battery size the road capacity can be increased to 30-cwt. A recent change has been made in the braking arrangements of Morrison Electricar vehicles and they now employ the Girling hydraulic system.
The Brush Pony three-wheeler was displayed in open dairy form, with normal and enclosed driving compartments. An N.C.B. Percheron threewheeler appeared, after a lapse of a year, and was shown by T. H. Lewis, Ltd., together with an Electruk E.B. pedestrian-controlled model which has full-width axles at the front and rear. The Percheron differs from other threewheelers because it employs rear-axle drive, which is claimed to give improved traction on hills during winter. It has 'a stepped frame, a conventional steering wheel linked through a Mantes box to the front wheel, and a payload capacity of 25 cwt.
Both Percheron and Electruk open dairy models were shown in the livery of the Express Dairy Co., Ltd., and a third model for that concern, •a self-service grocery shop, was displayed by Smith's Electric Vehicles, Ltd. This mobile shop, which was awarded a silver medal in the new inventions class at the Dairy Show, was based on an N.C.R. 2-ton
chassis with dropped frame and twin rear wheels. It had a composite body designed and built in the N.C.B. works at Gateshead, and was notable for the arrangement of racks and high standard of finish.
With a dropped frame at both ends and wide doors, the customer has no difficulty in entering or leaving the vehicle with a large basket, and the level section at the centre has a capacity of 420 cubic ft. plus additional storage spn.ze in the cab.
Customers enter the shop at the rear through a door provided with a roller shutter. Full-height continuous shelves are fitted to the sides and rear, and these are sub-divided by glass partitions and equipped with detachable chromiumplated guard-rails. The checking and payment counter is placed across the body immediately behind the driving seat, which can be folded away when the assistant is working behind the cash desk. Noteworthy details of the interior finish included " easy-clean " plastic sheeting at the counter and wash basin.