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Silent running

23rd February 1995
Page 18
Page 18, 23rd February 1995 — Silent running
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

The Skoda Foreman pickup's strongest selling point is its price: a new electric version is certainly quiet, but loses the Skoda's price advantage.

by Cohn Sowman

• An electric-powered pickup based on the Skoda Foreman is being imported from the Czech Republic by Kings Lynn-based Motokov.

The Elmo pickup has a payload of 350kg, a top speed of 80km/h, a range of up to 80km and a list price under £10,000. Power outputs of 17.7hp (13.1 kW) and 20.5hp (15.4kW) are available using 12 or 14 6V/190A batteries: the standard four-speed gearbox is retained.

As speed increases, selecting a higher gear conserves the batteries (indicated by an ammeter on the dash with green, yellow and red areas). Power consumption is put at 20-25kWh/100km and the vehicle has an on-board battery charger which plugs into any 13A socket. Four of the traction batteries and one for the normal electrics are stored under the bonnet, the rest are beneath the 1.4x1.4m loadbed.

A percentage discharge meter is fitted in the dash and the company recommends that the batteries are never drained below 20% as this shortens their life. Charging time is between six and 10 hours depending on the state of discharge (the standard 12V battery is recharged from the traction batteries).

The vehicle has an unladen weight of 1.580kg.

A lkW electric heater is used for demisting and an independent cab heater can be specified to run on diesel, petrol or gas. Optional extras include a 770mm-high GRP canopy to convert the pickup into a van with twin full-height locking doors. It is attached by eight bolts and weights 45kg.

Driving impressions With a clutch pcdal and gear lever only the large dial on the dash marked with an A tells you this isn't a standard Foreman. But turn the ignition key and all you hear is the sound of the brake servo vacuum pump.

After selecting a gear the clutch pedal can be released. The vehicle won't move until the accelerator pedal is pressed and you don't have to depress the clutch when stopping.

Moving off, the ammeter swings straight round to the red section but as the speed increases to match the gearing the load on the motor decreases and the needle moves hack towards the green.A whine increases in pitch to a squeal as power consumption drops.

While our unladen vehicle would move off in second this kept the needle in the red longer.

Allowing the motor to rev and delaying gear changes minimises power consumption for maximum rangefourth gear is reserved downhill running.

braking is available.

Having come to a halt you can then select the ratio you require, let your font off the clutch and sit in silence. Unlike an automatic, the engine and transmission won't hold the vehicle stationary on an incline, so the hand-brake must be set. A digital display on the centre of the dash has to be set to 100% when the batteries are fully charged. It then indicates remaining battery life.

Being permanently within 350kg of its GVW, Elmo's unladen ride is always as good as it is going to get. When you finish your journey, pressing a large red knob to the left of the steering column isolates the battery pack. Lift the flap sporting the vehicle's badge and a lead with a 13A plug is released for overnight charging.

Conclusion

Payload, range and cost still make electric vehicles unacceptable alternatives to traditional internal-combustion models. Alternative fuels also offer reduced emissions but with no weight or cost penalty.

Maybe because it starts from such a low cost, the effect of converting the Elmo is particularly dramatic: it costs almost twice as much as a petrol-engined Foreman.

This vehicle certainly has potential for use in environmentally sensitive areas but it will need much greater development to win volume sales.

• See next week's CM for impressions of Ford's electric powered Ecostar van.

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