BUSES FOR DUNEDIN.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 145, 4 June 1913, Page 3

BUSES FOR DUNEDIN.

ENGINEERS REPORT. PETROL-ELECTRIC MACHINES RECOMMENDED. Dunedin, June 2. Mr. C. F. Alexander, manager of the city trams, has drawn up a report, under instructions from the Tramways Committee, covering the question of a suitable type of ’bus I for Dunedin, such a service to be run in conjunction with the ordinary tram service. The report (the findings of which arc concurred in by Mr. E. E. Stark, city electrical engineer) states that “the question of electric or steam ’buses does not require to be considered. This leaves petrol and petrol-electric.” Mr. Alexander continues that, in his opinion, the petrol-electric vehicle is the best of its type on the market, and I that such machines have practically I all the advantages of an electric | vehicle without the drawbacks. The I electric ear is run by battery and motor ; in the petrol-electric vehicle an oil engine, directly coupled to a generator, takes the place of the s battery. The latter has, say s the j report, the “desirable application ! of power of the electric vehicle and j the reliability of the petrol-driven I machine.” The running cost of the petrol-electric with petrol at 16 per gallon, and without a conductor, ds estimated at slightly under U- per mile for Dunedin. This is allowing for all charges, so far as the vehicle is concerned, the approximate cost in Dunedin without body being £‘B3s. The report states that petrol-electric vehicles are used by a number of motor-bus companies and by corporation tramways—amongst the latter being Newcastle. Liverpool, and Southport. As regards petrol machines Mr. Alexander reports that in his opinion the petrol passenger vehicle of to-day is an undoubted success, and that the General Omnibus Company. of London, is running no fewer than 3000 of one type. The petrol vehicle, however. Mr. Alexander points out. has clutch and gearbox—and this is the main difference between it and the petrolelectric machine, which latter does not require these accessories. The cost oi the purely petrol type for chassis and tyres (not including body), delivered in Dunedin, would run from £825 to £'9l4. The estimated running cost would be similar to that incurred by the petrol-electric. After remarking that he feels perfectly safe in recommending cither petrol-electric or petrol driven machines, Air. Alexander concludes by stating that he personally recommends the petrol-electric.