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(ET) While We Are On The Topic Of Electric Cars...............
- Subject: (ET) While We Are On The Topic Of Electric Cars...............
- From: "RJ Kanary" <rjkanary nauticom net>
- Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 22:32:38 -0500
- Sender: owner-elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
THE PIONEER ELECTRIC CAR
by B. C. George
(This article first ran in the Jan/60 issue of Sports Cars
Illustrated )
We recently drove a car that, when it reaches production, could
take the second-car market by storm. The most unusual automobile of
conventional configuration to be engineered in this country in many
years, it will be manufactured by the Nic-L-Silver Battery Company of
Santa Ana, California. There will be no gasoline or air pollution
problems with the "Pioneer", as it is called, for this is the most
promising to date of the several electric cars being engineered in
various cities. Tests thus far indicate operating costs will be under
V3 cent per mile.
The two-seater body is of laminated fiberglass by Aiken with a
removable hardtop that attaches by four thumb screws, behind the
individual bucket seats, which move far enough back to allow a six-
footer reasonable comfort, are twelve 4-volt series-wired batteries
of special design made by Nic-L-Silver. Concealed beneath rugged
flooring which serves as luggage space, these lead-acid batteries
have two cells each with 31 plates per cell and a capacity of eight
hours at 235 ampere hours. A box section steel frame of simple but
rugged construction carries the full torsion bar suspension which
closely resembles the Volkswagen layout. Two electric motors, each
delivering eight shaft horsepower are used; there is one to each rear
wheel, the latter being driven by a rugged sprocket and chain system
that is geared down to conserve power.
Top speed is 50 miles an hour but acceleration to this maximum is
amazingly brisk, quicker than that of the average small imported
car. .
Driving is simple and most enjoyable. The seats are as comfortable as
those in most small sports cars. In fact one sits very low with the
legs outstretched. There are two pedals, one being the 'usual brake
pedal which operates a conventional hydraulic system with expanding
shoe brakes with one slave cylinder in each wheel. The other pedal is
a wide one for acceleration with an operation best described as two-
stage. For normal driving at city traffic speeds, 25 to 35 miles an
hour, the accelerator is depressed less than half way and the drain
on the batteries is 24 volts at the most.
For full acceleration and speeds approaching the maximum, the pedal
is depressed past the half way mark, whereupon the voltage used
approaches or attains the maximum of 48 volts.
The steering system is also conventional re-circulating ball type
with very easy movement of the wheel even at rest requiring three
turns from lock to lock. As the wheelbase is just 95 inches, the
Pioneer will turn on a dime; parking will be a breeze with space to
spare due to the overall length of 157 inches. The overall width is
about 60 inches which should qualify this little runabout for reduced
parking rates in many public parking lots.
George Lippincott, the founder and president of Nic-L-Silver, hopes
to have ten cars a day rolling off the assembly line now being
tooled. Power companies, postal authorities, and dealers throughout
the West Coast states are interested in obtaining the first models.
As quickly as possible, according to Lippincott, the Pioneer will be
produced at a rate of one hundred a day, national distribution being
the eventual intention. The Pioneer has been tested in San Francisco
where it devoured the city's famed steep hills in front of utility
officials and interested dealers.
The weight of the Pioneer, with the hardtop in place, is 1800 pounds
of which over 600 are accounted for by the batteries. The fiberglass
body weighs less than 300 pounds.
During our demonstration drive around the outskirts of Santa Ana we
experienced the curious glances of motorists in assorted large
vehicles. While waiting for traffic lights to change, the complete
lack of motor noise is, at first, some what ghostly. The two electric
motors do not run when the foot is taken off the accelerator. The
latter is, in effect, a switch; only when the pedal is pushed do the
motors operate. Forward and reverse are controlled by a panel of
solenoids and switches actuated by a small toggle switch on the
dashboard. The latter contains a conventional speedometer and one
other instrument showing the voltage being drawn.
The range of operation varies from 100 to 150 miles according to
Lippincott, depending on whether one pushes the performance toward
the maximum or is content to stay with the majority of traffic. Not
intended to be a touring car with continental range, the Pioneer is
aimed at families requiring the utility of a second car but also
demanding economy. A battery charger will be standard equipment in
each Pioneer. Recharging will take a maximum of eight hours and,
despite rumors to the contrary, is from a regular 110 volt current
outlet. Utility companies have indicated an interest in providing
such outlets in selected public parking lots. In most areas a full
charge is not likely to cost more than the fourth part of a dollar
and where electricity is relatively low in cost, less than 20 cents.
If in the process of going to and from work on parkways the driver
stepped on it and obtained only 80 or 90 miles total range, he would
still have extremely low cost transportation.
The ride is good, telescopic shock absorbers being used. The parking
brake will appeal to those who like sports cars: a lever between the
seats. The inside panels of the doors are of interesting design with
the armrest built in.
In addition to the space above the batteries and behind the seats,
other luggage can be stored beneath the front hood. The space behind
the electric motors will be occupied by the battery charger.
Maintenance will take little time. Checking the level of the
batteries and taking a specific gravity reading occasionally (1.265
is normal) and greasing the chassis is all that is necessary. The
latter has a total of three greasing points.
Next to the low cost of operation in importance is the price of the
car which, in convertible form, will be $1995 F.O.B. Santa Ana
according to Mr. Lippincott. The batteries will have a useful life of
three years and, at that time, will cost less than $300 to replace.
Other than the batteries, there is little to worry about outside of
occasional motor brushes. The Pioneer will not be the only electric
car but it will probably be the first.
See the pictures of the Pioneer Electric Car on www.ClassicRag.com
Photo page.