ew Battery-electric with Two-speed Gearbox
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INCLUDED in the specification of the 1 new Electrojan, a battery-electric vehicle announced by Trojan, Ltd., Purley Way, Croydon, Surrey, are a Borg and Beck single-plate clutch, and a two-speed-and-reverse gearbox. The chassis is basically that of the Trojan 15-cwt. petrol-driven van, and externally the machines are identical.
An 8 h.p. series-wound motor running on 60 volts is •mounted under the bonnet, the drive being taken through the clutch to the gearbox as in the petrol-driven version. With a backaxle ratio of 4.44 to I, the overall ratios of the forward speeds are 7.5 and 15.5 to 1. A maximum speed of 18 m.p.h. is claimed, whilst the range of oper'ation under normal conditions is said to be 25 miles on one charge of the standard 175 amp.-hour battery, the units of which are carried on each side of the chassis. / 'file motor control, which is on the two-stage principle, is foot operated, the clutch, brake and control pedals being disposed as in the petrol-driven chassis. Braking is by Lockheed hydraulic equipment, front and rear-wheel drums being 10 ins, diameter by 11 ins. wide. The wheels are equipped with 16 by 6 " electrc "-type tyres, Designed for a payload of 15 cwt., the van body has a capacity of 165 c tibc ft.
An outstanding advantage of building the Electrojan round the Trojan chassis and maintaining the essential features of the latter, is that the opera
tor of petrol-driven models who may acquire the battery-electric version will be able to maintain uniformity in his fleet, and with the exception of the motor and control gear, no new servicing problems will arise.
With its clutch, two-speed gearbox and two-stage control, a high degree of manceuvrability is claimed for the new
Flectrojan. Although the technique required to handle a battery-electric vehicle differs from that exercised in driving a petrol-engined machine, the fact that the driving controls on the Electrojan are similar to those of most petrol-driven vans, makes it possible to change over drivers almost .without
need for special instruction. With a mixed fleet this should prove a valuable asset.
A prototype vehicle has been in service for some time, and we understand that its special features have been favourably received by the operator.