Four new electrics
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FOUR NEWLY built Bedford CF vans with Lucas electric drive systems recently left Sparkhill, Birmingham and made the 113.6 mile run to Shepherds Bush London at an average speed of 25.52 mph.
If this was not the first ever Birmingham to London motorway run to be completed on a single charge it was most certainly the first such run to be completed by a convoy of four electric vehicles.
The vans were being delivered to three London fleet operators under the "London Goes Electric" scheme which is being financed by the Government. Two went to the Metropolitan Police, one to the Army and one to the "London Evening News."
The purpose designed batteries used are still being further developed but are currently giving a working range in excess of 50 miles with a top speed of 50mph in urban traffic conditions and with a payload. The four van run was an endurance test designed to show that the vehicles could be delivered under their own power. When checked on arrival the batteries were only 80 per cent discharged.