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More Battery Chassis.

8th January 1914, Page 12
8th January 1914
Page 12
Page 13
Page 12, 8th January 1914 — More Battery Chassis.
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First-published Particulars of the Introduction of the Lloyd Accumulator Models into this Country.

During recent months we have not neglected to draw attention to the somewhat belated increase of activity which is now becoming evident in the possibilities of the electric battery-driven vehicle. Perhaps this renewed activity is very largely due to the fact that no small measure of success has attended the operation of machines of this type on the Continent and in America. it is our pleasure now to give the first-published particulars in respect of the introduction of yet another battery-driven series of models, which, in this instance, is being produced by a special department of a, famous German undertaking.

It is unnecessary for us, at such, short notice, after our recent writings on this subject, again to repeat many of the detailed arguments to which we have given publicity in order that the claims of the batterY vehicle should receive adequate consideration, but we will content ourselves with referring our readers to various issues in which special battery-vehicle articles have appeared during the past six months.

There would appear to be a special field for the .employment of accumulator-driven machines in respect of such work as refuse collecting, and already our friends in Paris have satisfactorily adopted big dust-collecting wagons of this class. We illustrated and described them but a few weeks ago.

The stopping and starting of an electric vehicle is a matter of x,-,ry real simplicity ; there is no engine to keep running, and the effort which the driver js called upon to make for both operations is very slight. Another claim that is ma-de in respect of the suitability of the electric vehicle for work of this

class is that it is vitally necessary that such operations should be carriedout with the minimum of noise, as much of this work has to be done at night, and at a time when it is particularly necessary to avoid annoyance to residents and others. For fire-brigade purposes, of course, it has been recognized for some while 13a,st that the batterypropelled machine has outstanding advantages, at any rate for those special models which are used particularly as hose-carts end first-aid machines. In Great Britain, firemasters have not shown much tendency towards adopting batterydriven plant, but on the Continent and in America .developments in this dn ection are noteworthy'. it is to be presumed that further steps will be taken in the same direction in the near future by municipally -owned brigades. New, with regard to this latest type of battery-propelled machine, we have to record that it has been placed on the English market. by

Mossay and Co., Ltd., of 45, Horseferry Road, Westminster, S.W., and it is known as the Lloyd model. The chassis are manufactured by the Norddeutsche Automobil und Motoren Gesellschaft, of Bremen, Geemany, a company which is connected with the famous Norddeutsche Lloyd Steamship organization. The range of available models covers all loads from 5 cwt. upwards.

Lloyd .electric vehicles have been used in Germany for something like 10 years, and in maay different types, for use as pleasure cars, delivery vehicles, ambulances, dustcarts, street sweepers, postal vaiea. and fire engines. The German Post Office alone utilizes at least a hundred vans in the eehief cities, while Lloyd taxicabs are being run in many places all over that court try.

On receiving an intimation that a trial chassis was ready for our inspection, we immediately made arrangements to view it and to compare it, in our own minds, with other vehicles of similar type.

Our first impressions of the 2i-ton example of this construction were pleasing ; the vehicle is of exceptional r clean design throughout, and great care has been expended in making it accessible and weatherproof. The main frame is of pressed steel and is of ample strength for the intended lead.

The driving mechanism consists of a pair of high-speed seriesparallel motors mounted on the su ivel axles, and driving the wheels by helical gears on the armature Ehaits which mesh with internal helical-spur rings on the hubs.

We noticed with interest the ar rangements for rendering the storage batterie-s accessible. A handle situated at the side of the frame operates a layshaft which is fitted with roller-chain tackle at each end ; the battery-box is supported by clips attached to the frame, and it is only necessary to lift it. slightly, by means of the handle and chaingear, to release it from these clips ; it can then be lowered to the ground.

A pillar in the front of the vehicle supports the volt-meter and ammeter ; in the centre of this pillar is fitted a plug switch which directly controls the current, frooi the accumulators, and this:can be removed if the vehicle be left unattended, and any risk caused by the tampering with the. control is 1:b us circumvented.

In order to charge the batteries it is not necessary to remove them from the vehicle ; a special .plug is provided to fit into the plug switch, and this plug can be connected to any suitable available source of charging current.

All resistances and fuses are situated in the front of the machine, under the footboards, in accessible positions ; the negative and positive wires are kept well separated to avoid any risk of sheeting, whilst aluminium cases and cover plates are provided for the terminals and other vital parts. In order to prevent injury's being caused by water-, the fuses, etc., are supported on a sloping platform off which any water that may penetrate will run.

We particularly noticed that, at full lock, the driving motors are very accessible and that, though

they are well protected from dirt and water, the covers may he easily removed in order to attend to any brush adjustment required.

During a trial run with a load of

ton on board we we were pleased_ to note the extriime simplicity of the control and the smooth and powerful acceleration of the motors ; the only noise apparent was a slight. hum from the latter. The controller is combined with the steering gear, it being fitted to the lower portion of the steering cohmin ; its cover can be slid up to expose-the interior for examinatioa or cleaning. The controller works on the series-parallel system ; it has five forward positions, an electric brake and a reverse. A pedal is provided operating four resistances, and it will at once be seen that the total number of forward speeds available is twenty.

The steering operation was found to be easy, this being chiefly due to the centrally-pivoted front wheels it is of the ordinary wormand-sector type, the only deviation from standard practice being the provision of a 8teeking.arm in the centre of the front axle ; this arm operates the swivels by means of a divided tie-rod.

The weight of the battery is 16 cwt., and the charge is sufficient for a journey of 46 miles. When coasting down, hills at over 5 m.p.h. the motors act as dynamos and charge the batteries.

The battery manufacture] s. undertake theina.intenance of the batteries, which are of the well-known TridCA" pattern, at a. guaranteed rate per car-mile, while the manufacturers of' the. vehicles are prepared to predict. and guarantee the cost of operation per car-mile fol.• a consjderable number of years, given the conditions undec which the machines are to be operated.

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Organisations: German Post Office
Locations: Paris

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