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B.T.C. Lacks Electrical Leadership

3rd June 1949, Page 2
3rd June 1949
Page 2
Page 2, 3rd June 1949 — B.T.C. Lacks Electrical Leadership
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

WHAT We consider to be a mistaken approach to electric-vehicle operation was made by Sir Cyril Hurcomb, chairman of the British Transport Commission, in his speech at the Electric Vehicle Association luncheon held recently in London.

There seemed to be an element of favouritism behind his statement that, because of their greater mobility, oil-engined vehicles will be employed in preference to trolleybuses for the replacement of trams in London. Surely Sir Cyril, as vicepresident of the Electric Development Association, should be electrically minded, and be aware that the trolleybus has additional carrying capacity, higher average speed, quietness, and other essentials to passenger transport which may outweigh the mobility of the oil-engined machine.

Outlining the prospects of battery-electrics, Sir Cyril gave a list of their shortcomings, and said he considered that their main field of expansion was for the retail trade—which did not interest the B.T.C.

He mentioned that some of these machines were being operated by the British Railways. Eight battery-electrics are being tested by British Railways—eight lonely electrics spread over a number of regions in such a vast fleet, with possibly no one interested in their presence or qualified to carry out their maintenance. How could these Cinderellas hope to survive such a test?

If Sir Cyril would profit by the mistakes of his G.P.O. colleagues, who also failed to appreciate the few electrics which they tried out on a similar basis, he would equip a depot or an area with battery-electric vehicles, and would see to it that the maintenance staff were fully qualified for the job and the drivers schooled to be enthusiastic towards their operation. Confidence in electricvehicle operation should start from the chairman of B.T.C., and be instilled into all personnel right down the line.

Sir Cyril mentioned that the existing horse-drawn conveyances are to be mechanized, and that the battery-electric would be considered if it could be proved more profitable than the petrol chassis. If costing is to be based on the present strength and conditions of operation of machines owned by British Railways, then the scales are heavily loaded against the electric.

Two vital points missed in the speech were that electric vehicles use home-produced "fuel," and battery charging is done during the off-peak loading of the power stations. It is strange that the vice-president of the E.D.A. should have neglected to mention such factors which are so important in making comparisons.


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