ELECTRIC VEHICLES - PRESENT AND FUTURE TECHNOLOGY

Reference is made to the successful operation of about 30000 electric milk floats in the United Kingdom, and a description follows of the development stages of an electric road vehicle for general work. A major proportion of the development work concerned the design of a thyristor chopper controller, and details are given of the vehicle's speed, acceleration, and range. Mention is made of the benefit of regenerative braking. A description is given of lead-acid battery development, electric vehicle maintenence, and in particular, battery-charging requirements. Modification of these procedures will be possible by the installation of on-vehicle chargers. The prototype single deck electric bus is described. Details are included of sodium-sulphur battery development, showing a five-fold improvement over standard lead-acid cells. The use of this battery in public transport vehicles is discussed. In conclusion, reasons are given for purpose design in the long term optimisation of electric vehicles. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03091430
• Corporate Authors:

  INSTITUTE OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER ASSESSORS

  STOWE HOUSE, NETHERSTOWE
  LICHFIELD, STAFFORDSHIRE  United Kingdom  WS13 6TJ
• Authors:
  • Appleyard, M
• Publication Date: 1979

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 8-12
• Serial:
  • Journal of the Inst of Automotive Eng Assessors
  • Volume: 14
  • Publisher: Jour of the Inst of Automotive Eng Assessors, Inc
  • ISSN: 0309-1430

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Battery chargers; Brakes; Buses; Control; Control devices; Delivery vehicles; Design; Development; Electric batteries; Electric buses; Electric vehicles; Emergency vehicles; Innovation; Prototypes; Sodium; Sulfur; Technology; Vehicle design; Vehicle maintenance
• Old TRIS Terms: Future concepts; Public service vehicles
• ITRD Terms: 1315: Battery; 1361: Brake; 1272: Bus; 3874: Control; 1234: Delivery vehicle; 9011: Design (overall design); 9013: Development; 1282: Electric vehicle; 9109: Prototype; 7197: Sodium; 7109: Sulphur; 1575: Vehicle inspection
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Energy; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00309322
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 26 1980 12:00AM