Famous Store Faithful to Electrics
Page 45
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A LTHOUGH the number of operators I-1 of battery-electric vehicles in the London area is not large, it is a noteworthy fact that, from amongst them, it is possible to name several which have operated electries over a great number of years. The necessarily limited area of operation of these machines is in no sense a drawback where local deliveries are concerned, neither is the moderate maximum speed of which the average machine is capable.
. In the case of Selfridge and Co., Ltd., Oxford Street, London, which operates 24 -Sunbeam battery-electrics, the average daily mileage covered by each machine is about 15. In some cases, where a vehicle is close home Most of the time, it may operate for a couple of days on one battery charge.
• '[he normal procedure, however, is for each machine to have its batteries charged overnight, the average time taken being seven hours, The arrangatalents for charging are particularly thorough, being from a/c mains supply at 210 volts, which is broken down and rectified through Westinghouse metal units, of which there are 24. Each rectifier is coupled up to a point in the garage, so that one or any number of the vehicle batteries may be charged at the same time.
The machine is driven in, the lead from the charging point is plugged into a point in the driver's cab, and no further attention is required. The average charging rate is 20 amps. and as the capacity of the batteries is 190 amp.-hours (a few are of 220 amp.hours), each vehicle obviously starts its daily work on a fully charged battery.
As an example of the current consumed by the machines, a monthly average, taken at random, shows 7.96 amp.-hours per vehicle-mile, which, with 200-amp.-hour battery equipment, means a mileage of approximately 26.
The makes of battery in use include Tudor, Exide, Young, D.P., Ediswan, Britannia and Lucas, all, with the exception of the last-mentioned, being installed in vehicles bearing the name of Selfridge. Lucas batteries, amongst others, are used in the 17 Sunbeam machines operated by William Whiteley and Co., Ltd., which vehicles come under the same control as those of Selfridge and Co., Ltd.
Each battery installation consists of three units, each having 10 cells to give 60 volts pressure. The batteries are disposed one on each side of the chassis and a third behind the rear axle, ready obstacles rubbing along the top of the vehicle no unsightly scratches are left, as would be the case with a coachwork finish.
Al] machines in the fleet are identical in chassis specification, and differ only in respect of wheelbase lengths.
Whatever may be the normal life of an electric, it is fairly safe to say that the fleet at present under consideration, maintained and serviced as it is, should, ultimately, provide figures that more than justify the most extravagant claims for longevity. B9