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Economy Pointers at Battery electric Show

24th February 1939, Page 102
24th February 1939
Page 102
Page 103
Page 102, 24th February 1939 — Economy Pointers at Battery electric Show
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Eight Makes Exhibited in Variety of Forms Show Multiplicity of Applications for Which This Economic Type of Vehicle is Suitable

ALTHOUGH the space available was not great there was a wide variety of machines to be seen at the third Manchester Electric Vehicle Exhibition, which was held on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week under the organization of the Electric Vehicle Association of Great Britain.

The Dickinson Street garage of Manchester Corporation Electricity Department provided a convenient venue, but owing to the limited area it was necessary for the number of exhibits to be restricted. However, they ranged from small-capacity delivery vans to a 2-ton coal lorry and tower wagons for streetlighting maintenance purposes.

Support for the exhibition continues to grow and companies represented on this occasion were Associated Electric Vehicle Manufacturers, Ltd., Cleco Electric Industries, Ltd., MetropolitanVickers Electrical Co., Ltd., Murphy Cars and Trucks, Ltd., Partridge Wilson and Co., Ltd., and Victor Electrics, Ltd.

In addition to the accessories that were shown by the vehicle manufacturers themselves, there was a grouped stand of batteries by the Chloride Electrical Storage Co., Ltd., the D.P. Battery Co., Ltd., the Tudor Accumulator Co., Ltd., and the Young Accumulator Co., Ltd. Electric vehicle cells and crates were shown, including cutaway models that displayed the method of construction.

Only a few years ago the electric B60 vehicles operating in the Manchester district could be counted on the fingers, but now they number several hundred, for since the series of exhibitions started various local users have built up useful fleets, particularly for the purpose of replacing horses on domestic delivery rounds.

Show models are customarily highly

finished and generally prepared to be as attractive to the eye as possible and, whilst a good proportion of this type was included, there were also machines shown that had been in use for varying periods. By implication—as the owners permitted their exhibition—it would appear that they were satisfied users' testimonials of a particularly practical kind. Considerable attention was attracted by the affair and good attendances of interested transport users were recorded. For the purposes of the exhibition, and in a remarkably short space of time, the E.V.A. effected a complete transformation of the hall.

An unmistakable feature manifested by the exhibition is the diversity of uses to which the battery-electric vehicle can now be successfully put. Outstanding applications revealed included service in connection with electricity undertakings—a na!tural state of affairs—employment for houseto-house delivery work where silence and economy are more important than speed—one of the best recognized battery-electric usages—and for touring purposes.

This last is perhaps one of the most recent developments, but the employment of the type has of late increased markedly in this. field.

Many visitors found particular interest in the Wilson-Scarmnell electric horse, a vehicle that had been in use on the terminal delivery services of Coast Lines, Ltd. Maintenance of overhead wires and streetlighting was provided for in the display of Partridge, Wilson-and Co., Ltd,. which

included a 2-ton chassis fitted with a RawEason. counter-balanced tower: this was one of the Morecambe and Heyshain EleCtricity Department fleet. There was also a further tower wagon with a new Rawlinson ultra-lightweight counter-balanced telescopic tower and a Wilson Electric 18-22-ewt. chassis on which was mounted a neat Hovii coachbuilt. body.

Those who wanted to investigate mechanical details Were able to do' So on the stand of the MetropolitanVickers Electrical Co., Ltd. Here was exhibited a .1-tim chassis stripped so as fo show all the working parts of the standard Metrovick productions which are fitted with six-speed series-parallel pedal-operated controls. Two vans were also to be seen, one with a carrying capacity of 8 cwt. and the other, a 1-tonner, for dairy delivery. In addition to the vehicles, a number of accessories was to be seen, among them being a cutaway working exhibit of a motor and controller displayed in motion.

12 Cwt. to 2 Tons.

Electricars and Morrison Electrics were included in the display of Associated Vehicle Manufacturers, Ltd. The former make was represented by a 2-toncoal lorry which has seen active service in the fleet of Lancashire Associated Collieries, Ltd. The Morrison machines were two vans of 12-cwt. and 1-ton capacities, the smaller of which is in daily use by Manchester Corporation Electricity Department.

. Van-type bodies for bread or milk delivery were featured on machines shown by Victor Electrics, Ltd., which were of the low-front-entrance type. Another type shown was the Victor 5-ton tractor, the actual model being one run by I.C.I. (Alkali), Ltd.

The Cleco Model A van, which' employs extradargeeapacity lightweight. batteries, so as to give a long range of operation, was the representative of the Cleco range. A general purpose body with a capacity of 8 cwt. was mounted on this chassis, and it is claimed that the battery system used in this case gives. a 49.8 per cent. increase in potential radius.

A Victor six-wheeler which provided ample space and a carrying capacity of 25 cwt., whilst running, 50 miles .on charge, was included in the display made by Murphy Cars and Trucks, Ltd. Other products of this make to be seen were the MurphY Servitor delivery "prams,' a three-wheel design that is planned for quick stopping and starting, with the driver standing on a small platform while the vehicle is travelling.

The value of the electric vehicle's source of home-produced energy was stressed at the luncheon held in connection with the exhibition.

Col. G. D. Ozanne (national chairman, E.V.A.), who presided, said the Association worked in close cooperation with the electrical undertakings to help the vehicle industry. He was struck by the attitude of Government Departments who had referred to the possibility of shortage of fuel in the event of hostilities, whilst they had apparently,' overlooked the electric vehicle, which ultimately, relied on British coal. He avoided using the term "British-produced fuel" in connection with electrics, because that might cause confusion with producer gas, but preferred to say they relied upon British-produced energy. From questionnaires,received, it was clear that the Government recognized the . electric, tommented Mr. H. E.• Annett (chairman, E.V.A. NorthWestern Area), for it had asked for them to be placed in a separate class. Apart from other consideraticins, the electric provided the cheapest service for door-to-door duties.

The British nation never acted unless confronted by a crisis, said Major A. L. Trundle (chairman, National Executive), but it must be remembered that the country's freedom carried with it certain responsibilities. Electric transpm-t could help the nation in time of trouble. We needed to do -what other nations were doing and certain of them were eimicentrating On electric traction.

Aids Electrical Efficiency.

Mr. -G. T. 'Allcock (deputy• chief engineer, St. Helens Electricity Department), who has played an important part in electric-vehicle development in the North-West, spoke of what the vehicle load means to the supply undertakings. They found it most attractive', for it was an off-peak load without artificial restriction and .tended to keep an undertaking efficiently employed. Each vehicle would consume about 6,000 units per annum, and as the Manchester district had something like 600 vehicles, the local consumption for charging their batteries was something like

units.

Following the luncheon, the Lady Mayoress of Manchester, Miss Betty Hodsman, performed the official opening.


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