Trolleybuses Independent of Mains Curre
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TROLLEYBUSES which can run A independently of outside sources of electric current, are being 'produced in Germany by Imperia Aggregatebau of Dusseldorf. The necessary current is supplied by a D.C. generator having an output of 14kW. at 140 volts.
The generator is driven by a VW engine, which is the industrial version of •the unit used in the Volkswagen private car. It is air-cooled and rated to produce 24 b.h.p.
Direct coupling of the power unit to the generator is adopted and the complete set weighs about 550 lb. An additional winding on the generator enables it to be used.as a motor for starting the engine.. For this purpose two 12v. 108 amp.-hr. batteries, wired up in parallel, are used.
With the engine running at idling speed, the driver moves a switch from the mains supply to what is termed the servo-drive. Trials with the prototype. installation were conducted with a trolleybus weighing 7 tons 7 cwt. carrying 95 passengers. The speed maintained on a level road was 15 m.p.h.
• Some of the advantages claimed for the system arc that it is no longer necessary to provide contact line loops in the normal overhead feeder lines at terminals, on roads from the depot to the.route, or in depots or garages; corn
previOusly encountered with railway %authorities where trolleybus routes bridge the railway lines have heen overcome; enables two-way running to be maintained where one system of overhead wiring may be out of action over a given section; road diversions present no difficulty; such trolley-buses Can'be used on sections of route where
the installation of an overhead may prove to be neither desirab economic.
It is understood that an order of these trolleybuses was rt received from Sao Paulo, Brazil, a number is already running is and Bielefeld in Germany.