Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-12
ELECTRICAL OMNIBUsEs,

ELECTRICAL OMNIBUsES.
New Conveyance. Ssor to Appear in the
Streets at London
Prom the London Daily Telegrart
For three or four years an experimental cleo
trical omnibus has been seer at intervals in
the streets Of London. and the facts which
its inventor, Mr.. Radcliff Ward, has OBJ
tanned by succession Of trial trips have
at last enabled him to determine the num-
Der Of electrical units which are necessary
to put into motion one ton weight The prac-
teal result Of these detailed observations has
been already turned to account in the constrnc-
ton of parcel van, which may frequently be
encountered in the West End; and the expe-
rience gained by its working has clearly demon
strated that an ordinary omnibus driver can
in ten days acquire the necessary skill to
handle an electrical vehicle with perfect pre-
cision and safety. In the immediate future
London is to be provided with improved
electrical buses SO that, however popular the
new conveyGuces may become, drivers need
not be deprived Of their means of livelihood
by their competition. Probably in fort
night the latest electrical omnibus will be run
ming. Compared with the first bus OF the
kind constructed "A cumbersome affair,
weighing four tons-the new pattern will
be "a thing Of beauty''-if any omnibus can be
said to possess beauty. in all outward respects
it will closely resemble the modern road car, with
its garden seats on the roof and its protected
stairway, but II will have this advantage-it
will give more comfortable seats with greater
elbow room to the inside passenger as IL
will be OF greater width than the ordinary
bus; and, as electricity will give light, there
will be obtained distinct improvement
upon the present mode Of illumination. Instead
n n hny ,la+S rfo
from the front OF the bus, and below 1t a kind
OF small boy catcher" or guard protects the
first pair Of wheels, which are for steering, the
other and larger pair being for driving The
electric bus will carry twelve people inside
and fourteen outside, exactly Ike one Of
allowed three sets Of accumulAtors, the
electrical energy being stored in them.
Tramcars may be driven either on this
plan, or by overhead conductor or by the
underground conduit system, but vehicles which
pursue an independent route, not running upon
rails, obviously can only be worked upon the
storage system, which necessarily means an
increase Of dead weight. The Electrical Power
Storage Company undertakes to run electric cars
for any tram company for 66 per cent OF the
gross takings, leaving the remaining "a per
cent to pay directors fees secretarial and Office
expenses, rent OF buildings and capital charges.
1t is this company which has engaged to supply
the electric buses with accumulators. One
set consists Of sixty cells each about 60 lbs.
in weight, bringing up the total weight of the
bus ready for running to rather more than 31S
tons, as compared with the heaviest horse bus.
"a cwt., and the highest % cwt.; but,
as Mr.. Ward says, the electAc omnibus
carries its horses on board Assuming
that an electrical generating and storage sta
ton is placed at HammeIsmith, at this point,
the commencement of the journey, two trays
of accumulators will be pushed through traps
in front of the bus under each seat; and, auto
matically. the electrical current will be brought
into Communication with the motor which
with the necessary intermediate gearing. lies
under the body of the bus. This store OF energy
will suffice for trip of fourteen miles, say
from Hammersmith to Liverpool street and
back. On its return to the ward. instead of
changing horses. all that will have to be done il
to take out the exhausted cells and replace them
with others fully charged-an operation which.
according TO the experience gained upon the
Barking electric trans, can be performed in
two or three minutes
1t may be asked whether travelling BY electric
bus may not be an expensive luxury. The
calculations appear to give prospect of the
present low rate of fares being maintained. On
the basis that one line Of buses consists of
twenty-five, with five spare vehicles in
the ward. and reckoning each bins 10
complete six fourteen-mle JOURNEYS daily
the total cost per mile. including main,
tenance would be Sd. as COMPARED with I'd nor
mile for horse traction. In other words. each
electric bus would mean saving to the pro-
prietor of "a a week, or, saw. f2OO per annI,m.
Further, the saving to the ratepavers would he
considerable by the substitution of broader and
smoothly running wheels for the eight hoofs of
a pair of horses giving at each pace n sledge
hammer blow upon the asphalt, wood or ma
cadam with ruinous effects. Experts upon the
question have the highest praise for the character
of the London roads. along which the electric
buses would be likely to ply for patronage. No
difficulties Of gradient or paving interpose
obstacles. Probably the worst drawback
to be feal ed is the greasiness produced by a
foggy or muggy day, but the same evil
operates disadvantageouslv upon horseflesb-
1t has been suggested that a still greater
luxury than those improvements which
are promised might be obtained by the
adoption of pneumatic tires. In this di-
rection Glasgow has already led the way. its
tramway and omnibus company having inst
placed upon the Argyll street and Pollokshjelds
lessness on the journey and the minimum of