Motor Road Transport For Commercial Purposes
(Liquid Fuel, Steam, Electricity)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES—RUNNING COSTS 91 Fleet of Eighty Electrically Driven Vans. The above costs are derived from actual data relating to a fleet of vans running on delivery service in London. A portion of the whole electrically-driven fleet of eighty vans has been taken, and the cost per vehicle has been arrived at by averaging the charges for thirty machines over the stated period. The mean age of the vans in question is four years, and Interest on Capital together with Depreciation have been taken at current vehicle prices. It will be noticed that a liberal allowance of Assis- tant’s wages has been included. The vans run six days in the week, are fully charged at night, boosted. at mid-day, and average in the year about 10,000 miles. In the case of this particular firm the garage where the vehicles are both charged and stored forms the despatch yard, which undoubtedly tends to economy in the organization costs, for even if the vans were run on a maintenance contract the yard would be required. Galleries carrying the charging cables and plugs are conveniently arranged throughout the building. The firm generate their own electricity, hence the comparatively low charge of Id. per unit. Basis of Different Load Gapacity. On the following page will be found approximate “ average ” weekly running costs—made up in Jan., 1920, and based on experience—for three vans of the same make, but of different load capacity, covering a daily mileage of between 20 and 25 miles. The charge for garage especially requires adjustment for each individual case, because in some this item can be set down at a nominal figure, while in others it will prove a more serious expense.