STORAGE BATTERY CARS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9503, 28 May 1913, Page 2

STORAGE BATTERY CARS.

AN EXPERT'S APPROVAL. j AUCKLAND, May 24. 'j There seems to bo a likelihood that the j Takapuna Tramway Company, on the I strength of the success of the Gisborno system, wdl introduce storage battery cars on its service, which at present consists only of steam trams. The peculiar character of the serv ice requires a power system that can bo economically employed in .carrying a traffic that varies so widely. There seems to many to be none moro suitable ' than the Edison storage battery system. That is the conclusion at which Mr J. D.| Douglas, consulting engineer of the com-j pany, has arrived at. Some 18 months ago , Mr Douglas visited the United States of America to investigate the various traction systems, and last week ho inspected the Gisborno tramway system, in which the cars are driven by storage batteries. Refer reing to the matter yesterday he declared his high opinion of tills system jf economical employment of electricity, and stated that he would certainly advise the Takapuna company to adopt it. Mr Douglas explained that he did not propose to discard the steam locomotives, but to retain them for the heavy traffic, and to utilise storage battery cars during the periods in which only a single ear service was required. His recommendation would be 'hat the, electric cars should bo ready for ■service from the beginning of next winter. I The Gislx)rne service has been in operation 'about six weeks, and the results already i observed agreed with the conclusions to which Mr Douglas came when ho examin- , ed the storage battery system in America, md learned, for instance, that there were 'OOO vehicles running on batetriee in Chicago alone. The Gisborno service has been inaugurated with two cars, and an increase of rolling stock, he says, is already 'ontemplated. Each car is driven by two .0 h.p. motors, drawing power from 100 •ell batteries, which store energy for 85 ' niles, practically a day's running. The power is generated by a Diesel crude oil engines, which are also used for lighting the town, and the batteries are charged.; in three or four hours after tho service. ' Running with this power the cars are run at a cost, of 2d per car mile, which Mr Douglas said was abnormally cheap. Although the service does not extend to the ' residential areas it is already showing a profit. Mr Douglas added that if his company lecided to adopt the storage battery eysem ho would recommend the uso of oil ngines for the generation of power. Among recent visitors to Gisborno was Mr F. Black, the well-known consulting electrical engineer, who availed himself of an opportunity to inspect the storage, battery trams. Mr Black, as is well known, has not shown any inclination in the past to praise tho system of tramways which has been adopted in Gisborne. He made a minute inspection of tho batteries, and carefully studied their operations generally. Seen on the subject by a reporter, Mr Black said that he did not wish at this stage to g've his views on the cars, but it is not likely that they will form the subject of a report to another borough which is interested in tramways shortly.