A SPECIAL-PURPOSE Battery-electric CHASSIS
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CCaf PETITION nowadays. is so keen that it is necessary for all businesses to he run on the most efhcient lines in order tb ensure the payment of dividends at the end of each financial year. 'Ogees without saying, therefore, that everybody who, by the very nature of the work upon which he or she is engaged, has to use commercial vehicles, should realize that the exact type of vehicle most suitable to the special circumstances created by any particular work, must,be employed in order to gain the desired efficiency. Such work as the delivery of milk, for example, requires an entirely different class of vehicle to that used by most hauliers. The range of action need not be very large, but the vehicle should be capable of being ,,-stopped and started with the greatest ease, as this state of affairs is an absolute sine qua non with any machine used in connection with house-to-house delivery.
In this connection Electricars, Ltd., of Lawley Street, Birmingham, has produced a special vehicle in which all the desirable features of quick transport are incorporated in the design of the chassis, but with the additional advantage that it is a particularly "handleable' machine. It is intended for general service embracing such highly specialized branches as the delivery of bottled milk, minerals and beer, where a large number of calls is made in a comparatively short journey.
An outstanding feature of the chassis is the manner in which the frame has been dropped in the middle in order to provide a low cab floor. This, by the way, is carried through from side to side of the vehicle, thereby minimizing the operator's effort on his many journeys to and from the driving seat ; the vehicle is, in consequence, appreciably easier to manipulate than the usual high-cab type. As will be seen from the illustrations, a conventional appearance has been obtained by housing the whole of the battery_ under the "bonnet." In passing it may be mentioned that this bonnet is so constructed that it will hinge in an upward direction in order to permit
attention being'given to the cell. The battery itself can be taken out of the machine in a very few momentsPiwith the aid of a small crane,and replaced in a similar manner, but this is only necessary, of course, if it be desired to use the machine continuously. A charging plug and switch are fitted to the dashboard, so that the battery can be re-charged so soon as it enters the garage, after completing one round of delivery work.
Features of the Chassis Layout.
We will now turn to a consideration of the constructional details. The illustrations .how quite clearly the general layout and the dropped portion of the frame immediately; behind the dashboard. All members of the frame are of pressed channel steel, soundly cleated and hot-riveted or bolted together. Both front and rear axles are suspended on semi-elliptic springs, the leaves being of mere than ordinary length, in order to obtain good riding qualities for the machine on rough or cobbled streets.
Simplicity forms the keynote of the layout for the transmission, for every
brushes' have large working surfaces, a fact$which, of-icourse, assists considerably in making the whole instrument capable of withstanding over-loads without undue rises in temperature. The power is transmitted, through a tubular propeller shaft with fabric joints at the forward and „rearward ends, to an overhead-wormstlriVen semifloating rear axle following conventional construction. The motor is, of course, controlled from the cab, the actual controller heir's. of the drum-and-segment type, which, although totally enclosed, is fitted with an easily removable cover, enabling all parts to be inspected very quickly. A ball-handled lever is oscillated in a horizontal plane, in order to obtain the three speeds which are provided in both forward and reverse directions ; a finger catch, however, is included in the design in order to prevent the driver accidentally switching through from forward to reverse.
All such accoutrements as an amperehour meter, a main switch—which, by the way, is a double-pole two-way Ironclad type, having the three positions "run," " off " and " charge " clearly
indicated—and a sensibly sized resistance, are included among the electrical gear, whilst such items as side lamps and the usual tail lamp form pail of the normal equipment and operate from a portion of the main -battery.
There is one tither point worth men tioning. The main-switch handle is removable in the "off ". position only, so that the driver can, when he leaves the vehicle, take the handle with him, thereby creating a safeguard against unauthorized operation.
Before going on to a consideration of the loading capacity, etc., it would seem opportune here to mention two other items in the specification. We refer to
the brakes and the !steering gear. In the case of the former, there are two Independently operated systems, both of which, however, engage internal. expandingFerodo-faced shoes in drums attached to the rear wheels. Both sets are operated by pedals, but one is pro vided with a retaining ratchet in order to enable the machine to be locked when it is standing on a -hill. So far as the steering is concerned, we can ourselves vouch for the fact that it is both light and direct. The action is of the camand-roller type, and the mechanism is, of course, totally enclosed. Pneumatic tyres of 32-in. by 4i-in. section are fitted to both front and rear wheels.
We can now turn to the cab and bodywork generally. As is usual with this type of machine a flat platform body is used, this having a load deck 7 ft. 9 ins, long and 5 ft. 8 ins. wide. This deck is 3 ft. 2 ins, above the ground, but the floor level of the cab Is only 1 ft. 6 ins., which means to say that the goods to be delivered are at the best working height for a man of ordinary stature, whilst the driver, and his mate, if there be one, do not have to climb, up and down a number of steps every time they enter-or leave the cab. It should here be stated that the overall length of the complete vehicle is 16 ft. and the width, 6 ft., whilst the height over the cab is but 6 ft. 4 ins.
It is interesting to note the capacity of the vehicle for work. On straight runs the machine can travel from 2730 miles on one charge, but, of course, such work is not at all usual for an electric vehicle. With a standard battery a run of 18 miles, which includes 100 stops, can be achieved, the maximum speed on the level with full load reaching to no less than 12 m.p.h. —an excellent all-round performance.
For those operators who prefer a van body to one of the platform type' an loadingElectricar van with a total loading space of 190 cubic ft. is available. This vehicle is very easily handled, for, despite wheelbase and trackdimensions of 10 fi;.. 3 ins. and 4 ft. 8 ins, respectively, the turning circle is only 43 ft. The machine can, therefore, be turned completely round on many of the main roads in large cities.