Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18
ELECTRIC OWNERS
HAVE ADVANTAGE
Know Beforehand Approx
mateIy Cost Of Upkeep
of Their Car.

Electric vehicle owners are in position
now to be able to tell beforehand APP
proximately what their car will cost
each wear for operation, due primarily to
the work of the Electric Vehicle Manu-
facturers Association. This body, com
posed of eleven electric carmakers, has
defined service. and the members live up
to the definition. as follows
Service means free inspection once
each month at the garage or service sta
ton. provided it is sent to the station at
the time specified by the seller. A charge
will be made for this service unless the
car is delivered at the station on the day
agreed upon. No charge will be made
for examining wiring. motor, controller.
brakes, steering. running gear, or an ex-
animation of the battery to determine its
general condition and whether it is being
flushed and cared for.
mo charge will be made for oiling the
entire car. which does not include re-
packing of bearings or gears. in grease.
If inspection develops any needed repairs.
causes, the owner will be notified of same
and an estimate of the cost of doing the
work furnished This service in no way
eliminates the responsibility of the garage
in which the car is kept.
Emergency Wagons at Agency.
The above definition gives the prospec-
tive purchaser an idea of what he is to
expect in the way of service from the
dealer But most of the dealers give
more than that specified above, and
without charge. All the Chicago agen-
cies have service wagons and day and
night service. The service wagon is kept
in the garage. and waits for call from
some owner who is unable to get his car
going. Immediately the service wagon
starts for the derelict. The wagon usu-
ally carries two extra wheels a set of bat
terieS and all the necessary parts to get
stranded vehicle in operation.
The car carries new ax'es ready for in
stallation. The only charge made for this
service is for the material. in the event
that the break or failure of the part was
the fault of the owner. If a front axle
breaks from no misuse apparently. the
owner is not charged.
In Chicago am type of electric is main
tanned for $40 per month in the public
garage. With this outlay all the owner
need do is drive the car around town and
when through leave it at the house. 1t is
called for and delivered by the garage.
The only work which the $40 does not IN
clude is repairing of the essential parts
Costs About $40 a Month.
In Detroit the fixed charges for main
tanning an electric range from $50 to $40
per month, according to the size of the
vehicle and its battery AID whether 1t is
called for and delivered by the garage
A large inclosed car with a forty-two-cell
battery probably will take the limit price
of $40, whereas a small open car with a
thirty-cell battery will cost considerably
less. The price includes everything but
repairing.
In Kansas City full garage service, in
Guiding charging, washing, storing and
polishing, is $40 per month, which in
cludes calling for and delivering the
vehicle to the owners residence If the
vehicle is within walking distance of the
garage the charge is SO less per month
Should the owner wish to call for and