ELECTRIC CAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3108, 12 June 1917, Page 6

ELECTRIC CAR

THE FIRST IN WELLINGTON. Tho City Corporation has imported for the use of the Electric Lighting Department a. "Detroit" electric three-seater car—the first of its kind introduced to Wellington. The new car, which has a neat appearance, has the usual bonnet in front, bat instead of it being a cover for an engine, it is simply a protection for the batteries (46 cells), half of which are placed forward and the other half at the back, which, with the motor in the centre, makes for a verv even distribution of the weight, a factor that is at once noticeable in the smooth running of the car. The control, which is on the left-hand side of the car, consists of two levers, one nbove the other, diTected from left to right, in order to be used by the right hand. The lower and longer lever is the tiller steer arm, tho •action of which is simplicity itself, us by pushing it forward the car veers to the left, and by pulling it in, the reverse direction is taken by the car. The application of the power is equally simple. On the power lever there are six notches (there are no goarsi. and by releasing the cut-off by pressure of iho foot, and'taking the first notch with the lever, the car moves off at its lowest speed, about four mil's per hour. That speed may be gradually increased notch by notch until it roaches the sixth, when tho rnr will travel ill Hie vale of 2ft miles per hour (lie flat. Bp.inj: without gonvs, the car is not so effective generally as a petrol-tfUßinod ear. but it enn rlimb any reasonable incline nl. n reduced Tate of speed. The "Detroit" is fitted with lead (not TMiwiul batteries, and one cTiaruc will suffice for a mn of flfl miles on the Hit. One good feahi.ro nhont tho our is <h:>> Ihe, moloi - stops when the ear U nulled up. α-ml waits do not. mean any consumption of towcv. Another is tlmt the power lever mnv be locked when Hip pei'-nu in pi'nrfff , leaves Ihe car, and until it is unlocked no one ran lanipor with the ear. an essential provision in Inrgo entities in Amerii':i i\nd T'ngland, wl'Tc ear thieves abound.

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Tlip now far i< l<, 1«. ik-0,1 V Hip nr"'«»pr unci on-lnnrr «r I'lp T-i—hfincr IV-pni-hiipiit ITilr. Gmhro l.mioManl. who superintend* Iho ivlmle of (]|o work' ppiVwvirorl by Mn wi<Jply-OTiorntinff dnpnrlmont,