New-York tribune., 1905-08-04
ONE CH1RGE: 100 MILES
Thomas n. Edison Solues Problem Of
Electric Propulsion of Vebic1es

o'ahse' ~ j.. Aug. tSpecial-In snnourcirs
ms AFTERNOON that ne had solved the problem ~
the electric propulsion OF vehicles Thomas IA,
son. The inventor, discredited recon, - - - ~
assertions attributed to him CONCERNING b,s -
trio storage battery, which he says he has ner
fected. Mr. Edison announced that within !. ra
weeks work would be started on an immense fao
tory building in Lakeside-ave., in which eu,n,oy
nlent will be given to several hundred persons ~
VIII manufacture the battery. The building win
be go feet long 60 feet wide and three stories bih
Mr.. Edison said that the statement that his bat
terry would drive an automobile at the rate os
thirty-threc miles an hour from New-York to Phil
adelphla and back single charge of the bat
terry was untrue. What he did say though, was
that pleasure vehicle under most favora BILE
conditions. such as would hardly he met with in
every day practice, might at the rate OF
twenty miles an hour for one hundred and 1ftv
miles with his battery. The best he would GUAR
antee on single charge was one hundred miles
The troubles IN the battery have been trying
for TWO years to remedy have been purely mechan-
ical, said Mr.. Edison. They have been greatly
due TO the swelling of the nickel cement / have
succeeded in reducing the weight OF the battery
down 10 from forty TO forty-ive pounds per horse
power. 1t has taken time to find out what was
needed for this battery. because we can't look
ahead and see just what thing is going to do
after we have II sketched paper. In the two.
wears l have been experimenting we have turned
out some $4,000 cells OF the battery and have oper-
ated 100 vehicles
Il do not pretend to have solved the problem for
touring vehicles. That can only be possible when
more charging stations spread about the coun-
try Cooper Hewitt Of New-York has helped
solve that problem with his mercury rectifer which
takes the place OF The old transformer and ma kes
II possible to convert the alternating currents used
III small towns so as 10 make them available for
charging the batteries
With proper motor and wagon equipment we
can take our cells and operate ordinary delivery
wagon for o per cent of the cost of maintaining a
horse -
Mr.. Edison said one of the hardest things he had
~ he
lack or knowledge of those who used the batteries
o., father Inisused them in practice. but he added
Ihat That was part OF the ga me-. and he had
come the trouble to a large degree Under the best
cond tions. he SAID, it took fve hours to charge
me Datlery. though II economy object the
charging could he done In less time.
ihe lnVento: has worked with his battery with
me OBJECT OF applying it to trucks for CONNER
claI purposes, and he says he drive a two-tou
hour il necessary. ~ -
Mr Edison looks TO be in better physical condi-
uon than ne has been for long time His face is
iuli. and he has better color. He said to-day
mat me trouble with his stomach. from which he
mas nsen Sn1erlng for several years is greatly i'm
proved MI Edison attributes the Improvement
10 constant riding in his big steam automobile