The case for the fast Wearies
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Paul Brockington MI MechE
EMPLOYING battery-electric vehicles i; essential to the profitability of a typica dairy. And detailed running cost analysn by leading dairies over the years hay( shown that they provide an annual saving o some 40 per cent compared with operatirq diesel-engined vehicles of similar payloac capacity. But if an electric vehicle is to bt acceptable for parcels deliveries or tilt equivalent, it has to be capable of speeds ur to 30 mph in the interests of profitability and to enable it to keep up with othet vehicles in congested city traffic.
While the large number of stops made by a vehicle on a milk round eliminates any gain from a higher speed capability — unless the vehicle has to travel a considerable distance to and from the delivery area the smaller number of stops on a normal parcels delivery run increases the potential of higher speed; and although the obvious benefit to other vehicle users does not add to the operator's profits, the appeal of higher speed to the average driver may be a factor of first importance in a costing exercise. Driver acceptability can determine vehicle acceptability.
Speed has to be paid for in terms of 3duced payload and a minimal increase in iaintenance costs; but according to chnicians of Harbilt Electric Trucks and 'ehicles, Market Harborough, the increase k maintenance is solely the outcome of reater wear and tear of tyre and brake quipment. They claim that there is no [crease in battery maintenance and that art of the payload penalty can be restored y using flat-plate batteries of the utomotive type.
Asked to validate the case for the fast Lectric, Harbilt pointed out that operators n the Continent, in America and in other verseas countries were showing a greater wareness of its potential than operators in Us country and emphasized that "fast" was 1 practice a relative term. A speed of 20/22 iph was fast compared with the normal iaximum speed of a milk float of 14/16 iph, although the 30 mph vehicle was, in rospect. likely to be most popular because : could keep its place in city traffic.
In many overseas countries, notably in Lrnerica, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and France, the authorities have been more active in promoting anti-pollution measures and this will continue to favour the electric. Harbilt believes the more intensive use of battery-electric of any type for other-than-milk-round use would in the long run favour the acceptance of the 30 mph electric. Delivery runs of dairy vehicles are highly organized and this is necessary in the interests of profitability. Such organization is not normally possible in other types of application; the electric has to prove as Harbilt believes it is proving — that it has the flexibility needed for wider application.
Pictures from Harbilt tell the story — in part; they cover the use of 30 mph electrics in France, America, Belgium and the UK and of 18/25 mph electrics in other countries. Enquiries regarding 30 mph electrics have been received from Australia, Canada, Israel, Italy, Switzerland and the West Indies. Most Harbilt Vehicles are equipped with the company's Rectactor control which is claimed to provide an increase of 20 per cent in speed or load with a given battery capacity.