ELECTRIC VEHICLES - A PROMISING FUTURE?

Despite the recent research on electric cars, their performance is still well below the standards demanded by today's private motorist. For vehicles regularly required to make long out of city journeys battery operation is unsuitable, but sodium sulphur batteries now under development could bring an increase of energy density by up to 500 percent by the 1980's making the electric car a practical proposition. Nevertheless the milk float has shown that for programmed operation with a more sophisticated technology the electric vehicle has advantages over other forms of transport. A major manufacturer is about to introduce a 35 cwt battery-operated van with a top speed of 40 m.p.h. and range of 50 miles, making it suitable for use on many short hauls around towns and cities. Battery power can be suitable for urban buses; the chloride 'silent rider' 50 passenger single deck electric bus has been successfully used on an operational trial for two years in Manchester. It has a top speed of 40 m.p.h. and a range of 40 miles, completely adequate for peak period operation. /TRRL/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00203122
• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Road Transport Engineeers

  1 Cromwell Place
  London SW1 25F,   England 

  Institute of Road Transport Engineeers

  1 Cromwell Place
  London SW1 25F,   England 
• Authors:
  • Hill, A
• Publication Date: 1975-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 21
• Serial:
  • TRANSPORT ENGINEER
  • Issue Number: 68
  • Publisher: Institute of Road Transport Engineeers
  • ISSN: 0020-3122

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Buses; Economic efficiency; Electric automobiles; Electric batteries; Electric buses; Electric vehicles; Sodium; Speed; Sulfur; Urban areas
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency
• ITRD Terms: 1315: Battery; 1272: Bus; 5911: Efficiency; 7197: Sodium; 5408: Speed; 7109: Sulphur; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Highways; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00133615
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 13 1976 12:00AM