(ET) While We Are On The Topic Of Electric Cars...............

["RJ Kanary" <rjkanary nauticom net>]

 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.