Switched-on CF
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• Bedford has reaffirmed its commitment to the electric panel van market with the news that from mid-October it will start regular on-line production of electric CF2 vans — with a production rate of up to 500 a year — at its Luton van plant.
Over 300 one-tonne payload CF2 Electric vans, produced in two batches, have already been sold, with the last of them built late last year.
Whether Bedford will he able to sell 500 electric vans a year remains to be seen, although Bedford's electric vehicle manager Ken Malis says over half of next year's production is already covered by firm orders from electricity boards.
Although the level of Government subsidy given to electric vehicle manufacturers has fallen by 60% from the original figure of £4,200 per vehicle, Malia says that the CF2 will keep its original April 1984 launch price of £10,280 including battery pack and charger.
While other UK manufactur ers are adopting a lowerprofile in the electric vehicle market, Bedford is to launch a series of nine one-day electric vehicle roadshows, in conjunction with the East Midlands Electricity Board and LucasChloride Electric Vehicle Systems.
They will be held at Bedford dealers in the East Midlands from June 3 to July 3.
Interest in the CF2 Electric van continues to increase outside the UK, despite its relatively low overall sale in Britain. Over 30 — badged as GM Griffons — are currently being evaluated in the United States with the development trials being co-ordinated by the American Electric Vehicle Development Corporation.
They have reached the second stage of a four-part trial involving fleet users in the US, which could ultimately lead to production of a GM electric van being set up in America in about two years from now.
Over 70 operators in Denmark, Sweden, West Germany, Japan and China are currently assessing the CF2 Electric.
Two vehicles have been ordered by the Mitsubishi Corporation with one to be used by Kyushu Electric, while another two are being shipped to the major Japanese utility company Chuubu Denryoku.
[1 Bedford will begin development trials with an electric CF2 van fitted with sodium sulphur batteries by early 1987. That could triple its 80km (50 miles) range currently provided by a one-ton lead acid battery pack. Production of the sodium sulphur battery-powered CF could start before 1990.
Compared with the existing lead acid battery pack in the CF2 electric, which weighs a hefty 1,250kg, a sodiumsulphur battery pack could give better flexibility in payload and range owing to the varying number of cells that can be used.