Metering Notes POWER MILESTONES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 43, 20 February 1940, Page 12

Metering Notes POWER MILESTONES.

SWING TO PETROL » WHEW STEAM AHD ELECTRICITY LED. i B EVOLUTIONARY CHANGES. The most revolutionary change since Ihe beginning of the horseless carriage era, some 44 years ago, was the gradual swing-over from steam and electric vehicles to the petrol-driven automobile. It will surprise most present-day motorists, says the "Dunlop Perdriau Bulletin," to learn that, in the chronology of the milestones of the automobile industry, the statement was published under date 1899 that "steam and electric vehicles had the complete lead over petrol types in all forms of contests." At that time there was a great threecornered battle going on in the world's infant motor industry involving petrol, steam and electricity for the motive power of the newly developed method of transportation. Each had its adherents. Electricity, at first, seemed the ideal power, for it was quiet and as fast as its rivals. Evidence of this was a ."•() miles road race' staged at Long Island (U.S.A.) in 1900.^ A 5 h.p. electric won in 2 hours 3 minutes, defeating its nearest competitor, a steam-driven car, by 15 minutes, with a petrol car third, *I*2 minutes further back. However, electrics wore handicapped by the heavy weight of their accumulators and the relatively short run that could be made on one battery charge, while the steam-driven vehicle had to generate its steam before it could be started. With petrol, a swing of the starting handle sufficed for the to be ready for service, while its sphere of travel was limited only by the size of the petrol tank. So gradually the tide turned in favour of petrol, and by 1901 the motor industry had practically swung over to the petrol engine. However, the steam-driven motor vehicle was not wiped out of the picture for many a long year, particularly for neavy transport haulage. As regards the speed capabilities of the "steamer," it is worthy of mention that Serpollet, aboard his steam ear, held the world's land speed record in 1902 at 75.00 m.p.h. Several petroldriven cars, including Henry Ford (91.37 I m.p.h. in 1903), Vanderbilt (Mercedes), Hemery (Darracq), in turn held the classic record. The last-named lifted the figure to 109.75 m.p.h." in 1905. To-day the record stands, at the phenomenal s|ieed of 308.85 m.p.h., achieved by the 'Britisher John Cobb in the United States last August. The highest speed attained by a steam car was 127.57 ni.p.li., Marriott in a Stanley gaining the world's record in 1906 by averaging that speed over a mile. Since that period petrol has been king and the world's colossal motor industry relies on petrol products for its. propelling energy. The development of the huge petroleum industry helped to bring into being some -44,000,000 motor vehicles, of which a little less than onefiftieth are in service on Australian roads.

Had the swing to petrol not taken place 40 years ago, and its subsequent permanent dominance as a propellant made possible only by the bounteous gift of Nature, the world to-day would not be operating 44,000,000 automobiles. in the service of mankind. The gigantic petroleum industry, which has progressed step by step along with the motor industry, would not to-day be assisting in creating values which annually contribute more than £2,000,000,000 towards the world's economic systems, etc Thanks to the petrol engine and J. B. Dunlop'g. pneumatic tyre the world, in a relatively few ehort years, has gone tlirough one of the greatest revolutions in history, the motorisation of road transport.