HIGH ROAD AND.BY-ROAD

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21035, 10 February 1940, Page 20 (Supplement)

HIGH ROAD AND.BY-ROAD

j, A COLUMN FOR MOTORISTS,

“ELECTRIC HOUSES" BRITAIN’S NEW VEHICLES TO MEET PETROL SHORTAGE Petrol rationing and increased taxation has given British manufac- , turers a chance to show what they can provide in models of “electric horses,” for heavy haulage, and runabout vans and private cars driven by electricity from ordinary mains. At the outbreak of war fewer than 5000 electric road vehicles were turned out anually, except public transport types depending for current on overhead wires. Now the industry is planning wartime utility designs and preparing for a potential output up to 50,000 vehicles a year. “They run at. less than one-third the cost of a petrol car, the taxation is less, there is no wastage at stops, they start immediately in coldest weather, and they are perfectly silent,” said an ollicial of the Bntisn Electrical Development Association. ‘‘Five of London’s world-famous stores have used electric vans for many years, and thousands of overseas visitors to London take back vivid recollections of the familiar blue and silver vans of the Savoy Hotel. One of them has been doing its 40 miles a day since 1021 without overhaul. “Designs are now being drawn up for private runabout cars, suitable for shopping expeditions or for preprofessional or social calls. They will do 35 miles on one charge, and black-out hours allow more than enough time for re-charging from the mains supply in the garage.” ADVICE TO MOTORISTS COURTESY AND CAREFULNESS The following excellent advice to motorists is taken from the latest road safety message of an Automobile Association: “Take extreme care to see that nothing you do this summer will mar the beauty of any places you visit when touring, camping, or picnicking,” says the latest road safety message of the Automobile Association, Canterbruy. “It should be emphasised that the rights of those who use the countryside for their holiday pleasures are very few, if they exist at all. We are all sharers of common privileges, and it is the bounden duty of everyone to ensure that those privileges are not abused. Abuse of the freedom now enjoyed by motorists, caravaners, campers, and picnickers may mean the imposition of restrictions, so that the careful man:/ may have to suffer for the thougntlessness oi the careless few. “Those who enter upon public reserves do so under the strict rule that they arc permitted there to view I and admire. They are not allowed to ' destroy, take, or despoil plant life, any more than they are allowed to do so in any part of the country side which does not belong to them. Nor is the killing or taking of bird life sanctioned, and firearms are not permitted in certain areas. “Every effort should be made by everyone to ensure that" litter is not left about; the regulations governing sanitation should be rigorously obeyed; camping and picnic ground rules should be obeyed to the letter, fires, if lighted in a place where fire-places are not constructed for use, should be safe at all times, and thoroughly quenched before leaving. “In past seasons considerable damage to pasture land, buildings, bush, fencing, and livestock has been caused through carelessness with fires. The motorist should see that no blame of that sort can be ascribed to his lack of care. And lighted

STANDARD PETROL DOPING IMPROVES QUALITY The Commonwealth prohibition of further importations of super-grade petrol into Australia will not effect seriously the use of automobiles in this country, as the latest relatively high compressioned engined cars can be altered with little trouble to run on standard petrol which, in Australia, is stated to be of a higher grade than used in most overseas countries, says the Canberra Times. As no restriction has been placed on the importation of tetra-ethyl lead and other substances used for doping motor fuels, petrol so treated should be available to meet requirements for doped motor fuel. Why Petrols are Leaded Not all motorists have knowledge of why some petrols are “leaded.” Its use is to provide a better antiknock value because of its ability to greater engine efficiency. Detonation is caused by some portion of the charge of petrol and air in the engine cylinders becoming compressed and heated to such a temperature that it ignites spontaneously immediately the flame front of the burning charge, which starts from the sparking plub points, reaches it. 1 That portion of the fuel charge which i resist detonation, thus ensuring detonates is usually remote from the sparking plug and near some hot spot such as the exhaust valve. This portion burns so rapidly that it resembles a violent explosion, which creates a wave effect which strikes the walls of the combustion chamber, making the knock or “pink” audible. Tetra-ethyl lead is a chemical which, when added to petrol, has the most powerful effect in controlling the combustion cf the latter when in the cylinders of the engine. It is in fact, one of the most effective anti-detonating agents so far known. The amount of “lead” put into petrol depends on the basic anti-knock value of the latter and the final knock rating required. The effectiveness of “lead’ ’is such that only the minutest quantities are required to be added to gain the desired effect. The quantities used vary from between one and two cubic centimetres-per gallon, representing an average ot one part to 3000. The addition of “lead” to any petrol does not alter the latter’s characteristics, and it has no effect on the fuel until it is actually inside the cylinders. Its action is to control the combustion so that it proceeds at an even rate, though it does not necessarily reduce the mean rate at which the charge is turned. Spontaneous Ignition Avoided In other words, i: prevents undue rises of pressure when the piston is at or about top dead centre. Thus, spontaneous ignition is avoided, and consequently, the whole charge is burned economically, pressure is evenly distributed over the piston and cylinder head and steady propulsion is delivered to the crankshaft.

Tetra-ethyl lead, when ready for addition to petrol, is in the form of a fluid, about C>o per cent consists of “lead,” the rest' being composed of ethylene dibremide and ethylene dichloride, whose functions are to convert the lead oxide to lead bromide and chloride. These, being volatile at the temperature prevailing in the combustion chamber, are thus easily discharged from the cylinders through the exhaust ports during the scavenging stroke.

cigarette ends should not be cast frem cars into the dry grass by the roadside. There are many kinds of safety. Some of them are alluded to here.”