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MUNICIPALS GO DUAL PURPOSE

Few elec tries to spark interest

riiis YEAR at Earls Court there are, disappointingly, only three electric trucks on display, iespite a great deal of interest in such vehicles recently. One is a completely new model — )urpose built — while the other two are based on a well proven van model range.

On the municipal scene the emphasis is on dual purpose welfare/ambulances which can iccommodate wheelchair patients as well as stretcher cases or sitting patients. Three "go tnywhere" type ambulances are also on display.

316

ElecTraction

ilecTraction Ltd, Heybridge Bain, Ma!don, Essex

kN ENTIRELY new electrically )owered lightweight truck is ;hown for the first time by ElecTraction. The E700 is a • orward-control 305kg (6cwt) ilectric truck fitted with a platorm body. With an overall ength of 3.4m (1 ft) the load )Iatform measures 2m x 1.4m 6ft 7in x 4ft 7in) and the cab is nade from grp.

Tubular steel is used for the :hassis construction and the >ower is provided by a 7.5hp )eavy-duty electric motor which lrives the propeller shaft hrough a cog-belt reduction init. Power to the motor from he Oldham batteries is conrolled by a thyrister control gear vhich eliminates the need for a :lutch or gearbox. The E700 is claimed to have a range of 80/97km (50/60 miles) at 32km / h (20mph) and is said to climb a 1 in 6 gradient. • A bodyless chassis is also on show.

87

Leyland

Leyland Cars — Rover, British Leyland UK Ltd, Grosvenor House, Prospect Hill, Redditch, Worcs.

AN AMBULANCE conversion of the Range Rover by Wadham Stringer is displayed on the Leyland Rover stand. The wheelbase of the Range Rover is extended by 254mm (10in) which gives the vehicle an overall length of 5.0m (16ft 6in). To achieve the necessary height, a lightweight metal framework is fitted which is covered with grp and aluminium panels. The interior is lined with plastic laminate. Panel cavities are filled with thermal insulation. A Ouralunnin floor panel is used with moulded grp wheelboxes on a mild steel underframe which is insulated from the chassis with rubberised mountings.

The model shown is a single-stretcher type which features one Wadham Stringer Reasac stretcher trolley with the option of either two high-back seats or a bench seat on the other side.

When the two stretcher layout is specified the vehicle comes with a compartment between the cab and rear section.

The standard Range Rover V8 power unit is retained which produces 97kW (1 30bhp) at 5,000rpm. Disc brakes are fitted all round.

13

Ogle

David Ogle Ltd, Birds Hill, Letchworth, Herts.

A LUXURY personnel carrier based on a Bedford CF electric van is shown on the Ogle stand.

The conversion shares the same electrical units as the Lucas electric taxi and the Bedford CF chassis cab electric vehicle. A 37kW (50bhp) 216V electric motor drives the personnel carrier via a Morse 50 chain transmission which replaces the original Bedford gearbox.

The slide-out batteries are mounted below the chassis level and are the new Lucas lightweight lead acid type. Moulded front and rear bumpers and a domed roof are fitted and the vehicle has a single rear door. The interior is fully trimmed in vinyl and has upholstered seating.

32

Pilcher-Greene Ltd

Pilcher-Greene Ltd, Victoria Gardens. Burgess Hill, West Sussex.

PILCHER-GREENE Ltd is showing ambulance conversions of both the Range Rover and Land-Rover. The Range Rover conversion is constructed on a lengthened wheelbase chassis which uses the standard 3.5 litre (21 4cuin) V8 power unit and standard running gear. Aluminium alloy sections with grp roof and side panels are used for the body construction and the double opening rear doors have a 1 .4m (57in) access aperture. A translucent panel is fitted in the roof. Accommodation is provided for four seated patients and one stretcher patient.

Mounted on a Series III 2.8m (9ft lin) wheelbase Land-Rover, the second four-wheel-drive ambulance on the stand can be specified with four or six-cylinder petrol or four-cylinder diesel engines. The ambulance will accommodate one stretcher with four sitting patients. Alternatively two stretcher cases or eight sitting patients can be carried.

Last of the exhibits on this stand is a wheelchair/Ambulance Welfare Coach conversion based on the Mercedes L409. The conversion uses the 3.5m (lift 6in) wheelbase high-roof van which is fitted with a 2,1 97cc (1 34cuin) petrol engine. An electro-hydraulic chair lift is fitted and accommodation is provided for 15 seated patients, eight wheelchair patients or permutations of these.

7

Recites

Rootes (Maidstone) Ltd, Mill Street, Maidstone, Kent.

AS WELL as showing its double cab/pick-up body based on a Dodge Spacevan, Rootes is showing a welfare ambulance and a wheelchair/personnel carrier.

The ambulance uses the Dodge' Spacevan forward control passenger shell for its base which has a 1,725cc (105cuin) petrol engine with manual. transmission. A grp roof with mild steel side panels replaces the standard steel one and this gives an interior height of 1.8m (6ft). The rear entrance height is extended to 1.7m (5ft 6in) and is fitted with a pair of full-length grp doors.

All these grp panels and doors have a fire retardent additive and the roof is lined with grained plastic faced hardboard with a centre translucent panel. Enamel faced hardboard is used for the body sides above and below the side windows, wheelchair patients can be unloaded using the rear mount' ed electro hydraulic trail-lift.

The side entrance door is raised to provide a 1.8m (6ft) entrancezExtra folding seats are i

provided n the rear in addition to the normal three forward-facing seats. A folding stretcher with floor locations and storage brackets is also provided.

Based on the Dodge WalkThru KC 4035 chassis scuttle with a 3.86-litre (2.35cuin) diesel engine, the second conversion is a wheelchair/personnel carrier. The all steel body with sliding doors has a onepiece grp roof panel. Resin bonded plywood is used for the flooring which is covered with a felt backed vinyl material. An electro/ hydraulic rear lift is fitted to load wheelchair patients and a hinged stowable guard rail is fitted to the near side of the lift platform.

Three "Flomatic" roof ventilators are fitted and the interior of the roof is lined with plastic faced hard board which encloses thermal insulation. All body panels are fitted with sound-absorbing pads and wheelchair rub rails are fitted on each body side. Total capacity of the ambulance is 20 seated or 10 wheelchairs, and the interior measures 4.1m (13ft 6in) long x 2.11m (6ft 11in) wide.

84

Vauxhall Motors

Vauxhall Motors Ltd PO Box 3, Kempton Road, Luton. A JOINT project involving Bedford and Lucas has resulted in an electrically powered vehicle based on the CF.

The model exhibited on the Bedford stand is a chassis cab prototype which is shown fitted with an hydraulic platform. A Lucas/CAV motor with an output of 37kW (50bhp) is controlled by an SCR chopper control unit. Lightweight lead and acid batteries are used, undersiung beneath the chassis.

The electric CF250 has a payload of 1,000kg (1 ton) and has a minimum range of 113km (70 miles) between charges although this can be increased to 226krn (140 miles) if a steady speed of 48km / h (30mph) is maintained.

108

Wadham Stringer

Wadham Stringer (Coachbuilders) Ltd, Burrtields Road, Porstmouth, Hants.

A BEDFORD CF based ambulance is one of two conversions being show this year by Wadham Stringer. It is a fully equipped emergency ambu

lance which largely complies with the latest recommendations of the DHSS. Fitted with the Bedford 2,279cc (139cuin) ohc petrol engine the .ambulance has a wheelbase of 3.2m (10ft Sin). The bodywork is constructed from grp with a rear door opening of 1.7m (5ft 8in) and a total length for the vehicle of 5.1m (16ft 10in).

Four differing trolley layouts can be specified. The first allows both trolleys to be located within the wheelbase, with a full-height locker and waist height locker at the rear of the vehicle. Other layouts permit the trolleys to be situated over the rear wheels or staggered. The vehicle can be specified on the CF 280 or 340 chassis and the active ride control suspension system can befitted.

The second conversion beinc shown is a Welfare ambulancE based on the Leyland. Sherpe 240 van. This is a small welfarE vehicle which has an hydraulic rear lift stretaher accommOda. tion, and a capacity of 10 seatE or two wheelchairs. It is intend. ed for feeder use for largE collection areas or centres.

The Leyland Sherpa base it fitted with a Wadham Stringel grp raised roof and raised real doors. A choice of 1,622cc (99cuin), 1,798cc (110cuin petrol engines of 1,798cc (110cuin) diesel is available Automatic transmission can bE specified on the larger enginec models. The interior floor of thE ambulance is covered with plywood faced in vinyl.