Will Horses Cost Twice as Much ?
Page 15
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Two American Views of the Respective Values of the Horse and the Electric Motor Vehicle for Goods and Passenger Transport. The Majority of the Arguments Employed, of course, Apply Equally Well in the Case of the Steam or Petrol-propelled Machine.
Two articles of some interest have been submitted to our notice by the author, Mr. A. Jackson Marshall; who is Secretary of the Electric Vehicle Association, New York.
They deal with the horse as a servant, and with the use of the electric vehicle, both present, and praspec ' live. As both articles are written, from the same point of view and with the same object, i.e., that of influencing the present user of horse traction to consider its replacement by electric power, we will deal with both papers in the one brief summary.
• We refrain from publithing them in their entirety for two reasons. In the first place, they cover ground which has been traversed, in these columns, HO many times before, and although, in ordinary circumstances, the plea that war conditions have so affected the supply of horses and the difficulties of transport generally as to render it advisable in many . cases for a repetition of a few home truths, on the other hand, these papers deal more particularly with . conditions as they are in the United States of America, ,and, in consequence, the details are not: of such very considerable value to our readers.
• The Horse Not an Efficient Motor.
The Author draws attention to the fact that the horse is a-very inefficient motor. In the course of a working year he gives total service of the value of 900 dollars; the cost of the upkeep and maintenance of a horse wagon and the feeding and attention of a horse for the same peribd amounts to 880 dollars. If these figures are correct, it is 'obvious that the animal hardly pays for itself. , He next goes into figures showing the very considerable incidental loss which a nation suffers as a whole owing to having to sustain the large number of animals needed for horse transport. In the U.S.A.. it is estimated that rather more than 25 million horses are kept. -Using the U.S. Government estimate that it requires five acres of land for the upkeep of one horse, whereas orte acre is sufficient to keep one person for one year, then the acreage at present devoted to horses would suffice, to maintain 125 million people.
300 Million Dollars for Stabling.
Discussing the cost of stabling of the ten million horses which it is estimated are employed in and about the cities of the United States, the Author estimates that the sum of nearly' 300 million d,ollars is needed for this purpose. He also draws attention to the fact that all land contiguous to stabling suffers a 50 per cent. depreciation. As against this, he claims that no fewer than five equivalent electric vehicles could be garaged in the cubic space required for one horse wagon, one horse and adjuncts, the latter including fodder. The Author also draws attention to the undeniable importance of what, are called, for obvious reasons, " horse-caused diseases."
Horse Prices May Increase by 100 per cent. After the War.
It should not be forgotten either, that whereas the average useful life of a horse engaged on city -work is only about five years, an electric vehicle would last between 10 and 15 years, further, it is inevitable that the price of horses should ascend ; at the present time many thousands of the finest anima's that money and breeding can produce are being destroyed in the war area. It is estimated that at least 25 per cent. —and probably 100 per cent—represents the proportionate
increase in price which is likely to occur during the next two years. .
Good for the Electricity-supply Organizations.
The paper dealing with the electric vehicles comMences by drawing attention to the considerable number of users of large fleets in and around the big cities of America. The Author points out that if the ten million horses at presentbeing used in cities could be entirely displaced by electric vehicles, the revenge of Central Station Electric Supply Associations and Corporations would be increased by more than 200 per cent. Space is devoted to consideration of the very large field available to the small electric van capable af carrying from 7 cwt. to 10 cwt. and utilized for local deliveries, the mileage per day in these circumstances seldom exceeding the 30 to 50 available with one . battery-charge. It is pointed out that for a vehicle of this size the cost of the tires is much less than the item for horse shoes, which appears in the upkeep of all horse Nan s : eurrent at 2l-d. per unit, compared with the present prices of fodder in the States, is found to average half the cost of horse food, whilst garage charge is usually One-third to half the customary cost for stabling.
Fire Engines. Municipal Work. Taxicabs.
Another important development in the U.S. is undoubtedly the utilization of the electric vehicle for fire-engine work, and some very remarkable results are stated to have been achieved with this type of vehicle. He also draws attention to its increasing use for municipal purposes, and devotes considerable space to a discussion. on the electric taxicab. We understand that in Detroit a service of -these vehicles has been in use for some considerable period, and, so far, appears to be giving every satisfaction. He touches on the question of battery rental and exchange, and also points out that the prices of electric vehicles are now, very considerably less than they were a year or so ago, which is partly owing to the increased sales and partly owing to decrease in the cost of production, due to larger quantities being manUfactured. We cannot refrain from, recalling the failure of electric taxicabs in Berlin. A special feature is now being made by many of the manufacturers of town carriages for the use of city men whOse business necessitates the paying of a number of tails during each day. These are being made moreon the lines. as regards externals, of petrol-driven machines, and are stated to be becoming very popular for this use.