Benefits for electrics with new booster units
Page 55
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
AREPORT has just been issued by G. and M. Power Plant Co. Ltd., of Ipswich, which illustrates the advantages of the booster unit for electric vehicles which the company has recently introduced. This consists of a self-contained power pack which is designed to be fitted to an electric vehicle to increase its range; examples of models fitted with the unit were exhibited by both W. and E. Vehicles Ltd. and Austin Crompton Parkinson Electric Vehicles Ltd. at the recent Dairy Show reported in COMMERCIAL MOTOR of October 28.
Called the Gainmaster, the G. and M. Power Plant booster consists of an allwelded steel compartment, sound-proofed and ventilated and containing an enginedriven generator and other necessary electrical components. The engine runs on Calor propane.
Trials conducted by G. and M. Power Plant were primarily concerned with increased range and although the report deals with a 2 kw. unit the manufacturers have larger models under development. The vehicle used for the tests was a 10 cwt, electric van with a normal range of 35 miles, less a reduction of 3 miles for every 50 stops /starts assuming a route typical of towns and built-up areas. It is said that increases of between 60 and 100 per cent in range can be expected with the unit and that after the tests the vehicle was driven under its ov,..n power a distance of over 70 miles.
Comparing two typical results quoted relating to a vehicle with and without the Gainmaster unit on identical routes, without the booster the vehicle covered 26 miles including 205 starts/stops before the battery ran down. while with the Gainmaster 50• miles were covered including 330 stops before the batteries reached the same condition. It is interesting that when the vehicle was running on its batteries only, the Gain master was switched on after the vehicle came to a stop and after only 5 mm. the batteries were sufficiently recharged for the vehicle to return under its own power to the works.