COSTS OF MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
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THE NIThrIBER of electric vehicles employed by municipal authorities for various classes of work, and particularly for the collection of house refuse, is steadily increasing, and in practically every instance satisfaction has been given by these machines, and from time to time expressions of approval reach us. For instance, Glasgow Corporation employs some 20 electrics. Of these, 12 are of the Edison accumulator type, whilst, in addition to these, there are three G.V.s, one Orwell, one Garrett, one Electromobile, one Thouvenin-Tollin and one Elmo. These vehicles are employed on definite routine work and house refuse collection, and average 30-40 miles per day. The cost et current works out at 1.5d. per mile for the 2-ton vehicles, and they average 7,000 miles per annum.
The saving effected by using electric vehicles in comparison with the cost of utilizing horse transport was as much as £6,000 during 1921. This was with a corporation electricity supply at lid. per unit. At present the electric vehicles are given a mid-day boost, but those responsible do not consider this practice advisable, and it will be discontinued whenever possible.
As regards the life of the solid tyres, the best, result is 23,000 miles per tyre, but the average is 15,000 miles, and it is pointed out that there are great disparities between the different makes.
• Bath is another user of electric vehicles. In this case all of them are of the 2-ton G.V. type with Constable end-tipping bodies, whilst one is fitted with an interchangeable water tank.
These, vehicles are -employed on the reinoval-of house refuse and the haulage of road material, and the average cost per dayper vehicle is Ll 16s. 6d.; which
sum includes current, running costs, capital charges, wages of driver and all incidental expenses, but excludes loaders.
The average tonnage of refuse removed by each vehicle per day is 61, and the saving effected in connection with this work is at least 15 per cent., including capital charges. The charging current is supplied by the electricity department of the corporation to a reducer set and charging plant at a' charge of 10. per unit. It is not found necessary in this instance to give a mid-day boost, as the mileage is not sufficient to put an undue amount of work on the. batteries.
The costs of running electric vehicles naturally depend to a great extent upon the price which has to be paid for the electricity supply and whether there are losses due to conversion. We have pointed out on several occasions that there is a real need for a revision of the existing prices for current; these vary very considerably in, different parts of the country, and also in towns quite close to each other. In one place the cost may be id. per unit and in another as high as 4d. per unit.