New Electric Vehicles.
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Electromobiles (Leeds), Ltd., Makes a New Departure and Markets a Range of Chassis Having Several Distinctive Features.
Electric vehicles are not new to Leeds. That city has for long contained a manufacturer of this useful type of commercial vehicle in Electromobiles (Leeds), Ltd., of Neville Street. This concern three years ago commenced to sell a 15 cwt. electric vehicle of its own manufacture. Later a heavier type of chassis for loads of 2 and ai tons was imported from America and sold as the Urban electric chassis. The light machine was of the live axle type, and the heavier ones were chain-driven and built on lines which have come to be regarded almost as standard for this type of vehicle.
Useful Information for Northern Readers.
Quite recently, however, from various motives, and principally, we understand, because of a belief in the established merits of its design, the company decided to import unassembled the products of another American concern, and these we understand the sole "agency has been acquired. The new chassis are imported unassembled and are put together at the works in Neville Street. They have several distinctive features, and the following description, although it will at the moment appeal more particularly to our readers in the northern counties, will later on, as this business develops, be in demand over a much greater area.
American Make.
The vehicles in question are made by the Commercial Truck Co., of America. They are popularly known in the States as C. T. Trucks. The American company, we understand, is of long-standing and has had a very considerable experience in the manufacture of
this class of machine. In passing it is interesting to note that besides the manufacture of the ordinary run of electric vehicles for commercial purposes, this American concern has done a large business in electric vehicles for use as fireengines. To those of us who are acquainted with the speed capacity of the usual electric, this may seem
somewhat surprising, but as a matter of fact the fire-engine chassis are of special construction, embodying powerful motors. The radius of action is generally reduced to about 15 miles, and .so constructed they compete quite favourably with the internal-ebnibustioned-engined machine. , In fact, owing to the facilities for rapid starting, they are by some fire engineers considered to be supenor.
Wide Range.
The commercial-vehicle chassis made by this American company
are for loads from one-half to seven tons, being made in seven different types for loads respectively of J ton, 1 ton, 2 tons, 4tons, 5 tons, and 7 tons, the seventh machine being a special frontwheel-driven five-tenner.
Four-wheel Drive.
The Leeds concern are going to
have available all sizes but the half-ton and the special five-tonner. At the time of our visit the only one on view was a two-ton model, and this was only in process of erection. All the portions of the chassis, however, were available, and we were able to make a thorough inspection besides taking one or two photographs which we reproduce with this article. It will therefore be understood that our description applies more particularly to this model. In general the constriiction is the same throughout the range, with an important exception that whereas on all sizes up to and including the two-tonner two niotorA are used for the drive, One to each rear wheel ; for those models for loads of 3i tons and upwards four motors are used, one to each wheel.
Details.
The frame of the chassis is built up of rolled steel channels, and a very generous supply of cross mernbas and stiffening gussets are included in its construction. The usual types M spring brackets carry half-elliptic springs for both front and rear axle. The front axle is of unusual Construction, being made of solid drawn tubing, rectangular in section. To the end of this are welded the forks for the steering pivots, Ackermann steering, of course, being employed, and the
road wheels run onTimken roller bearings.
The rear axle is of unusual design. We do not recall having seen it dcscribed previously or to have encountered a similar one. An attempt has been made to design this axle with all the advantages of a full-floating axle and at the same. time to embody therein the unusual construction wherein one motor is provided for the drive to each rear wheel. This is achieved by allowing the casing for the reduction gear from each motor to servo as an attachment for the road springs and also to carry the Timken roller bearings on which the road wheels revolve. To these casings are bolted the motors and also two channel steel girders, which connect the two casings with their motors and road wheels together and serve as the load-bearing portion of the axle. The construction is perhaps not easy to follow from a verbal description. Reference to one of ourillustrations, how-ever, will serve to make it abundantly clear. It need only be added that the rear springs serve as torque and thrust members.
The simplicity of this form of eonstructitn is apparent now, since we have practically described the whole of the mechanical portion of the chassis with the exception of the steering gear. The latter is of normal worm and sector type, and we do not need to enlarge upon its design. The control of the vehicle is by means of a small wheel on the steering column and below the steering wheel. Four notches for forward sreeds are provided and two in reverse. In addition one of the two brakes is -electricallyoperated, the ether one being applied by pedal. The battery equipment consists of 42 cells of the Ironclad Exide type, although any special requirement would be met by the makers. The chassis equipment includes headlights, tail light and hand operated mechanical horn, switch, full set of tools, ampere hour meter, odometer and automatic cut-out. The wheel-track is 9 ft. 8 ins., and the wheelbase 5 ft. 6 ins. The tires normally provided are 36 in. by 5 in. single on the front, 36 in. by 31.in. twin on the rear. The price, we understand, complete with tires, is 2700. Alternative battery equip mint to standard may affect the price.