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Battery-electrics to the Fore

27th April 1945, Page 15
27th April 1945
Page 15
Page 16
Page 15, 27th April 1945 — Battery-electrics to the Fore
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LAST Monday the Parlia mentary Secretary of the Ministry of War Trans.. Embodied in the New Prototypes port, Mr. P. J. Noel-Baker, and Others Will Eventuate inspected an interesting proto type of a new battery-electric vehicle, and we have reason to believe that he was duly impressed with the progress that had been made in it.

During the war period this type of transport media has received remarkably little encouragement or -attention. The numbers permitted to be manufactured have been comparatively small ; in fact, in the earlier years, despite energetic protests from the producers, they were almost completely discouraged.. However, those business concerns operatingsuch vehicles, consider themselves fortunate in not being dependent upon imported fuel, and although supplies of electricity had to be somewhat cuitailed; the virtual rationing in this respect seems not to have been so severe as in thecase of liquid fuels, and the more urgent need for con, servation of electricity did not arise until the later years of the war, when the coal situation became somewhat acute.

It is not necessary to refer more fully to the' past, but to consider what will happen in the future. The prototype battery vehicles represent several years of development, and we are informed that the progress made has been remarkable. In at least some cases the mileage per charge has been very considerably increased, the road speed raised by approximately 40 per cent., and both these major factors are accompanied by the claim that the cost of operation will be found to have hen reduced by nearly one-third.

encouraging Prospects for Buyers If, in practice, these are shown to be veritable achievements, then a most successful future for this type of vehicle is almost certainly assured. Such progress in the course -of only a few years must be highly encouraging to the manufacturers concerned and to those who are waiting to purchase new models. We have little doubt that the design of these vehicles, including that of the batteries, will not remain static, and that during the coming years advancement will continue apace.

We are not given to enunciating exaggerated claims and, therefore, we are not going to say that the battery-electric vehicle can, or will, replace petrol or oil types for general transport work ; but it undoubtedly possesses potentialities which may now,.be increased, rendering it 'highly suitable for certain specialized tasks, particularly comparatively short-distance work involving many stops. It may be that, later on, it will develop into a 'more medium-range means for transport, but for some time price and other considerations will probably restrict its use in this larger sphere, where it is likely to meet more intensive, competition.

Now and again we hear rumours of wonderful developments in connection with batteries, but on investigation most of these prove to be chimerical. There may, however, be more hope -in this-direction in respect of the employment of lighter alloys, rather than in any shattering electro-chemical developments. Battery makers themselves, cannot by any means be accused of being devoid of ihtelligence, and there is little doubt that they are constantly experimenting with a view to bringing out more efficient products in this line.

Power Suppliers Must Co-operate There is little doubt that as the battery-electric gains adherents in various spheres, more will be done in the way of co-operation,between operators and electricity suppliers. Supply stations will be increased in number, so that areas in which the vehicles are likely to be employed will be more evenly covered with charging facilities. Schemes" have already been put forward by which charged replacement batteries may be made available at convenient points, and with vehicles designed so that batteries can be interchanged easily and quickly, the limits Of operation may well be extended. Such schemes, however, should be made general, and not applicable to any particular make or type of vehicle.

Another arrangement, which, but for the war, might ha:ve fructified, was that of considering the battery as "fuel," and spreading its cost over a reasonable period in such a way as to remove the incubus of the capital expenditure normally incurred by the buyer when he purchases a vehicle complete with its battery. A well-considered plan of this type would probably do more to encourage the sale of the electrics than any other factor. Operators familiar with the prices of the lighter models of petrol vehicles were inclined to be staggered at even the pre-war cost of battery machines designed to carry similar loads. There is also no need for the designers of electric vehicles slavishly to copy the efforts of those concerned with the production of types operating on liquid fuel. More-recent models show that this point is becoming appreciated, and that the electric must follow its own course of development. This, • in a way, resembles the progress of the earlier power-driven vehicles, which were at first known as " horseless carriages" and largely copied from the design of horsed models, but gradually found their own basis of design.

The Motor Trader and Commercial Rebates

THERE are Obvious signs that manufacturers in the commercial-vehicle field and traders who supply business" operators are tightening up. matters, particularly in connection with'discounts. Possibly, the great attention which has been paid lately to the grouping of hauliers has stimulated their activities in this direction.

From the beginning of the movement towards grouping, we have emphasized the point that whilst there may be possibilities of bulk buying of vehicles and supplies, the latter including particularly tyres and fuels, the putting forward of such an advantage as one of the major reasons for forming groups was strongly to be deprecated. We were of the opinion that it Would arouse considerable opposition from motor traders, and might result in putting out of business some of the smaller coriterns in this field.

Despite this warning; suggestions of this type were advanced, although, •perhaps, not quite so forcibly as might otherwise have been the case. Even so, the expected opposition is growing. Traders have become alarmed, and in some places chambers of trade have passed resolutions indicat ing fear that grouping may prove to be detrimental to the interests of the retail side of the motor trade.

On the other hand, we cannot help sympathizing with the small haulier or other operator who finds that his larger competitors are able to purchase vehicles and supplies of many classes on more advantageous terms than he is able to obtain.

The issue, however, does not concern merely the small man. The tyice makers have for, long considered that concessions to commercial-vehicle operators were far too extensive, especially in con-. nection with the larger sizes of tyre, whilst it has become increasingly difficult to draw distinctions between various classes of operator.

We have not gone fully into the various schemes put forward in this direction and others akin to it, but we take the view that all operators of vehicles for hire or reward can, be regarded as being truly "in the business," whereas the ancillary operator, whilst admittedly using his vehicles in the course of his business, is not employing them as a direct means for gaining his livelihood.

Between these two comes the B licensee, who, naturally, has a smaller claim than the full-time haulier, but no doubt feels that he is deserving of some benefit.

The case of the public-service passenger vehicle is fairly simple. Obviously, every one in this class operated, by private concerns, or even by boards, is run as a means for profit-making, despite the fact that some services may show a loss for a time. There may be some doubt as regards vehicles in the municipal sphere, although we have seldom found municipalities to be averse to making a profit, sometimes large, which eventually goes to the relief of the local rates.

Even in connection with what is generally known as the private car, this I's often a contradictory term, for many such vehicles are used entirely in the course of business. .

However, we think that we have gone quite far enough to indicate some of the difficulties and problems which arise in connection with rebates.

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Organisations: Ministry of War Trans

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