Swop-body electrics
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A FLEET of electric vehicles being operated alongside a co ventional petrol/diesel fleet the Southern Electricity Boa' at Portsmouth.
Among the vehicles are electric Dodge KC Chassis Cat which are equipped with d, mountable swop-bodies an Ratcliff RF 500 Foldaway ta lifts. They are used for a varie. of duties, including applianc delivery and sub-station mail tenance.
The Board's appliance di livery network is said to use tlswop-body system to maximiE vehicle use. An artic outfit takE two laden bodies out, swop them, and returns with tw empty ones. Then electri vehicles swop their bodies, con plete with tail lifts, at their di pots.
At Portsmouth, meanwhili the demounted free-standin bodies are loaded using the intt gral tail lift powered by sma trolley-mounted 12V slave ba teries.
The Ratcliff electro-hydrauli 500kg Foldaway lifts are fitte with push-button loading/ur loading facilities and are said t retract completely within the va body for travelling purposes, bE ing hidden by the rear rolls shutters.