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A Big Bakery's Experience of Electrics THAT a saving of

8th April 1938, Page 70
8th April 1938
Page 70
Page 70, 8th April 1938 — A Big Bakery's Experience of Electrics THAT a saving of
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as much as £1,300 1 per year can be effected by the substitution of eight electric vehicles for 12 horses and carts is evidence of the high economic value of the former type of transport in an increasing number of cases. The figure stated refers to a well-known and old-established London bakery concern.

It was found by this company that three electric vehicles ,could quite easily do the work of four horsed vans, and that petrol vehicles, carrying roughly the same loads and covering the same founds, each cost 10s. per week more than the electrics. From the experience gained in a year's operation it has been calculated that the normal average running cost of the electric vehicles is 2.3d. per mile. The makes used are Morrison and Wilson, there being four of each.

The electric vehicle, of course, regardless of comparative running costs, lends itself well to the business of carrying bread and such foodstuffs, owing to its cleanliness, lack of vibration and handiness in classes of work involving numerous stops and starts. Since the loads are light but bulky, rather large bodies, of Harrison manufacture, are fitted in this particular case. The average daily journey done by these vehicles is 28 miles, and the nature of the routes is not such as to include a great deal of hill-climbing.

The first move towards the adoption of this means for transport was a succession of tests of demonstration vehicles and, then, the purchase of two Morrisons, about 14 months ago. These soon showed their value and the fleet was expanded to include the number of vehicles already mentioned; their capacity is 18-22 cwt.

The accompanying table shows the cost of operating four of the electrics over a period of 47 weeks.

These costs include depreciation on the chassis, body, and charging apparatus at the rate of 121 per cent. on a straight-line basis. Tyre charges are not included, however, because no replacements have, as yet, been made. Neither has any provision been made for repainting the vans.

It will be seen, then, that the average service and repairs cost for the four,

over 47 weeks, was 5s. 10d.; power cost 3s. 6d., licences 7s., and depreciation and insurance accounted for £1 Bs. 3d., making a total of £2 4s. 7d, per week per vehicle. On an average mileage of 141, this makes the cost per mile 3.9d., although, as already mentioned, this figure is less if the average be taken over all eight vehicles.

Power is taken from Young 36-volt accumulators in the case of Morrison vehicles, whilst the four Wilsons have two sets of Exide and two sets of Young batteries, each of the 30-cell type. There is a separate garage on the company's premises for the electric vehicles, and separate over-night charging equipment for each van.

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The Westinghouse all-metal rectifier type of charger is used for the Morrisons, and has a normal d.c. output of 25 amps, and a 5-amp. output for week-end charging. Davenset chargers are used for the Wilsons, with valve rectifying and :30-amp. output.

No battery trouble of any kind has, as yet, been experienced by the company, and, in fact, attention to the batteries throughout the whole period of service has been confined to toppingup and, of course, regular charging.

It is rather interesting to note that, although the company finds its electric vehicles so satisfactory and so economical for the work which they are doing, cleaner, more dependable and a better advertisement. Then, as compared with internal-combustion-engined vans, the electric-powered vehicles are superior for work on routes approaching 30 miles. They cost less, cope more easily with the conditions of shortroute work, and need much less maintenance.

Regarding the last-mentioned, this concern has not, as yet, had great experience in the case of the electrics, which are still "in their youth." It is confident, nevertheless, that costs for this item over several years will be appreciably low as compared with the petrol vans.

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Locations: London

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