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Electric vehicle census article

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
Extract from a leading publication:


"A census of all types of commercial motor vehicle in use in Great Britain shows only 693 electrically propelled.

More text about weight of vehicles too long to type out here


It would appear that charging difficulties constitute the principal factor which has deterred potential users from purchasing this type of vehicle. This difficulty, however, is readily overcome by anyone owning a fleet of electric vehicles installing his own charging set in the absence of sufficient encouragement from the local electricity supply company."


It looks as if the provision of charge points is not a recent obstacle............


Any guesses as to the exact date of this prophetic article?


A prize you ask? Having gone through my test kit this weekend, I must have thought I hadn't got something to check compliance with 643.9 on several/many occasions over the decades, so have several spare ones with R Y B leads.......... 


Regards


BOD/BID/BED


  • my guess is some time around the early 1900s  - for the whole country 693 is a very low number, and

    Mr Bersleys briefly successful electric taxi service in London was launched in 1897

    Mike
  • I’m sure there were more electric milk floats than that in the 1960’s.
  • Don't forget that electric vehicles preceded petrol ones. I'll go for the 1890s.


    ETA: BOD wants the exact date, so 1 April 1895.
  • If they had to do a census rather than just checking records/database then it sounds like pre vehicle registration/road-tax era.

       - Andy.
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    I'm unsure if taxis were then classified as one of the commercial motor vehicles. 


    There is an advert for The Electrical Trades Union with Mr James Rowan J.P, as General Secretary.............


    Regards


    BOD
  • There was a petition to wind up  the London Electric Cab Company in July 1900. 

    James Rowan is mentioned in Hansard on Thursday 10 May 1934.


    Regards

    Geoff Blackwell
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    Getting nearer, interwar years!


    Regards


    BOD
  • perspicacious:

    Getting nearer, interwar years!


    I am going to cheat - I have put the question to the VSCC's forum.


  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    It'll have to be the Veteran Sports-Car Club,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


    Regards


    BOD
  • perspicacious:

    It'll have to be the Veteran Sports-Car Club,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


    Well, the VCC goes up to 1919 and the VSCC takes over from then, so it must be 1919.