AMAZING SUCCESS OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN GREAT BRITAIN.

Wanganui Chronicle, 10 November 1950, Page 6

AMAZING SUCCESS OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN GREAT BRITAIN.

The electrically propelled vehicle operated by a set of batteries carried on the chassis is as yet almost unknown in New Zealand, yet in Great Britain and on the Continent they are fast replacing the petrol operated vehicle for general delivery work. The battery gives 30 to 40 miles of travel on one charge and the cost of recharging at New Zealand rates would be 6d. In England, owing to higher power costs, the cost is Is. While the initial cost of the electric vehicle is higher than a petrol vehicle, the running cost is estimated in England to be half that of a similar petrol vehicle. The maintenance costs are extremely small, and the ultimate life many times greater, the electric motor being almost indestructible and entailing no expensive overhauls or maintenance. The Glasgow City Council has 86 electric five-ton vehicles on rubbish collection work, 50 of which have neen in constant, use, doing two eight-hour shifts daily, since 1928, and the original chassis, electric motor and starter equipment, are still in use. The amazing increase in popularity in England of the electric vehicle is indicated by the increase in registration figures. In 1946 approximately 8000 electric vehicles were registered; in 1950, approximately 22,000 were registered, many business concerns having completely changed over to electric, some having fleets of more than 200 in use throughout England. The first of these vehicles to come to Wanganui, a Wilson Electric, arrived a week ago in an unassembled <-i? ■ —vi has been assembled by D. A. Morrison and Co., Ltd., electrical engineers, and will be exhibted on their stand at th- 1 Show today (Friday) and Saturday.”