No Noise, No Petrol In Versatile Electric Car

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30368, 18 February 1964, Page 19

No Noise, No Petrol In Versatile Electric Car

(New Zealand Press Association)

WAIHI, Feb. 17. The amazing versatile Hinton electric car, demonstrated at Waihi, proved to have some outstanding advantages over conventionally driven cars. There was no oil, no water, no petrol, no smell, and above all no noise, except the whirr from beneath the bonnet discernible only from the driver’s seat. The manoeuvrability and quick take off, with simplicity of control and instant response, amazed observers.

As far as is known, it is the only full-sized electric car registered in New Zealand. Completely built, designed and financed by Mr Harold Hinton, an armature winder, of Waihi, the car has taken him two years and a half to complete. It is driven by four 12-volt car batteries which are kept fully charged by a simple single plug in when the car is garaged. The car costs only a halfpenny a mile to run, and maintenance is negligible. The nearest thing to gears is a lever which gives a faster speed using all 48 volts, or a lowest speed using 24 volts. There is no starter. Pressure on the accelerator pedal sets the car in motion and controls speed. Top speed is 20 miles an hour but simple adjustments could improve this.