Nod for Chch electric truck

Press, 1 November 1979, Page 25

Nod for Chch electric truck

By

Mike Hannah

Few motorists are pleased when their cars fail a war-rant-of-fitness test, but the inventors of an electric dropside truck in Christchurch were yesterday “quite happy.” For, although ’heir truck failed its first W.O.F test yesterday. Messrs C. Horsfall and K. Edgecumbe are confident that, with a handbrake adjustment and four nuts changed, the truck will gain its W.O.F. today. Staff at the Ministry of Transport’s Cranford Street vehicle-testing station described the truck as “structurally sound.’’ It was exhibited two weeks ago at the Lead Association’s symposium in Wellington, where the Minister of Energy iMr Birch: gave it a test drive. The truck, powered by a 36-volt traction battery, has been built for an Auckland company, Natural Energy, Ltd, at the Christchurch factory of Japort Steel. Ltd. A second electric vehicle, a van, is being built now, but it will be co’mpleted at Natural Energy’s Whangarei plant later next month, when the inventors return home. The company plans to produce 500 vehicles in its first year of operation, and says it has received many orders and inquiries for the vehicles. The dropside truck will probably stay in Christchurch when it is sold. The truck is powered by a rechargeable lead-acid battery, which will give it a

range of SOkni at a speed of 55km/h before the battery needs recharging. However, it can achieve speeds up to SOkm/h. rhe battery can be recharged from any rhree-pin plug. The truck carries its own reeharger. The comany’s vehicles will be aimed at the commercial market, and the dropside truck is expected to retail for between $6500 and $7OOO Finance has come from Natural Energy and from the Government through a regional development loan

Some parts will continue to be manufactured in Christchurch, and the company expects half the market for vehicles will be in the South Island because ot it> flat towns. Natural F.nergs Electric V ehicles, Ltd. was formed in .June with a capital of si 10.000 — $lO,OOO ord”W' voting shares and $lOO,OOO convertible preterence shares, the managing director (Mr Clem Hibbott) said yesterday.

It issued a statement -n lieu of pmsepcets in Julv All the voting stock and about half the convertiNe preference shares had al ready been taken up. Mr Hibbott said Franchise for distribute i of the vehicle have been ai ranged for the centre a <1 South of the North Islar I and Nelson: a franchise t part of Christchurch is a’, present under negotiation The charge to enable the vehicle to travel 80km is estimated to cost 25c.