Miniature Electric Vehicles.
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There is no time like the present fOr the introduction of all forms of labour-saving deVices. Not only is the productive capacity of the country increased by their adoption, but the release of men for other work or for the Army, as may be decided, is thereby facilitated. There is a type of machine of which much wider use-should be made, but which so far, except in a few negligible instances, seems only to have been adopted by the railway companies at a few of the principal stations. We refer to miniature self-propelled platform trucks. These are made in one of two forms, either as little locomotives capable of hauling a number of the ordinary platform trolleys, or, on the other hand, they may be made with suitable bodywork, as self-contained vehicles. 'The majority of these machines in use up to the present have been of American construction. It is therefore with considerable pleasure we announce that a Southport company, the British Miniature Electric Vehicle Construction Co., of 10, Hoghton Street, have made arrangements to manufacture a range of these little machines and that they are to be constructed throughout of all-British materials. Incidentally, the same form of chassis serves for other purposes, and we illustrate, beside the commercial one, a handsome and useful type of bath chair built on similar lines.
The chassis of these little vehicles arc simply but strongly constructed of steel channels, the batteries are carried on a tray in the centre, and the drive being through enclosed gearing from one motor on to one of thd rear wheels. The steering gear is of roller chain and sprocket wheels coupled to a lever attached to a steering pivot, the arrangement of the front axle being similar to that on ordinary road vehicle chassis. The machine we examined was for a load of five or six hundredweight. Other models for half and one ton are also to be made, and the power, of these appears to be worked out on a basis of 1 h.p. per ton of load. Batteries varying in capacity, according to the size of the vehicle, are also provided, and the standard battery is the Iron-clad Exide. As we write these lines we are informed that the firm have just received permission from the Ministry of Munitions to proceed with the manufacture, provided that arrangements are made whereby the Ministry can acquire, on demand, for its own purposes, any that have been sold.