The Maintenance of Electric Cars in the Country 
THE GARAGE AND THE GENERATING PLANT—USING DIRECT CURRENT FOR CHARGING—AUTOMATIC 
CONTROL OF CURRENT—NECESSITY FOR PROPER LUBRICATION—ADJUSTING THE BRAKE MECHANISM 
John R. Eustis 
HEN the assertion is made that it is a very simple matter 
to operate and maintain an electric vehicle, either pleasure 
car or motor truck, it is made in a comparative sense, because 
the electric vehicle is a piece of mechanical apparatus, and as 
such requires a certain amount of skilled attention for its suc¬ 
cessful use. The degree of skill and care required, however, is 
less than in the case of other mechanically propelled vehicles, 
such as the gasoline or steam automobile. 
The maintenance of an electric vehicle is much more of a prob¬ 
lem than its operation. In cities and towns, where often the hous¬ 
ing, and nearly always the battery charging, are done at a public 
garage, the matter of maintenance is attended to by the skilled 
mechanics and electricians employed there. The same holds true 
in the private garages, where a fleet of electric motor trucks is 
housed by its owner. 
It is different, however, on the country estate or farm, where 
seldom more than three, and usually but one electric vehicle is 
used. In such cases public garages, equipped to charge and 
care for electric vehicles, are not usually convenient, and the 
owner or driver must have the requisite knowledge and ability 
to attend to them. 
When an electric vehicle is to be used in the country the first 
matter that comes up for consideration is that of its housing. 
It can be kept in any barn, stable or other building where it is 
protected from the weather. Its presence does not constitute 
a fire hazard and consequently does not affect the insurance; 
neither is there any danger in cold weather from freezing, as 
there is nothing to freeze except the solution in the batteries, 
and this is immune when the battery is partly or wholly charged. 
The amount of money invested in an electric vehicle, however, 
and the importance of securing a maximum efficiency out of its 
use, fully warrant the construction of a special building or garage 
for its housing. The same building will contain the apparatus 
for charging the battery, a small work bench, storage room for 
extra parts, and, perhaps, the plant for generating the current 
for charging the batteries. Such a plant is, of course, not needed 
where current is already available for lighting and power pur¬ 
poses, as is generally the case nowadays on the country estate 
and farm. Where it is necessary to install such a generating 
plant, in order to make possible the use of an electric vehicle, 
the current generated may also be used for lighting and other 
power purposes. 
There are a number of satisfactory types and styles of small 
garage buildings where one or several electric vehicles can be 
housed. Stone, brick or concrete construction is preferable for 
the same reasons as would apply to any other buildings. Frame 
construction is, however, entirely suitable. For the sake of clean¬ 
liness a concrete floor is desirable, and this feature means much 
to the life of the rubber tires of the vehicle. The garage should 
not be so small that there is not ample room to work all around 
the vehicle or vehicles stored in it. 
The matter of the charging of the battery comes next.in order. 
Only direct current may be used for this purpose. Where such 
current is available of a voltage near to the maximum required 
for the charge, the only apparatus necessary is a rheostat regulat¬ 
ing resistance, placed in series with the battery and a voltammeter. 
When direct current is available, but at a voltage far above or 
below that required for charging the battery, a motor generator 
set must be employed. When alternating current only is to be 
had, then apparatus must be used to convert this to direct current. 
There are three types of such apparatus — the mercury arc rectifier, 
the synchronous or rotary converter, and the motor generator set. 
One of the more recent developments in battery charging appara¬ 
tus is an automatic arrangement whereby the charging is auto¬ 
matically controlled and automatically cut off when the batttery 
is fully charged. With this device it is only necessary to run 
the vehicle into its garage at the end of the day’s work, connect 
the battery to the charging board, turn on the current, and forget 
about it until the following day or later. Then it will be found 
with the battery fully charged and the current cut off. 
The necessary information for charging and caring for batteries 
is contained in the instruction books furnished by the manu¬ 
facturers. The important points are that the battery should never 
be completely discharged, or charged at too high a rate. The 
solution should not be allowed to get lower than the top of the 
plates in the battery or the sediment which collects in the bottom 
of the jars get higher than the bottom of the plates. Cells, plates 
and all connections should be kept clean. 
In the maintenance of the general mechanism of an electric 
vehicle, lubrication and adjustment, with the replacement of worn 
or broken parts, are the important requirements. Lubrication 
requires the most attention, and it is better to err on the side 
of too much than too little, and to give in small amounts often, 
rather than in large quantities at infrequent intervals. Vehicles 
of all types are provided with means of lubrication, depending 
upon the character of the contact surfaces. Among these may 
be mentioned oil cups, grease cups, grease boots, oiled bearings, 
and grease-packed bearings. Wheel bearings are packed with 
grease, while the treatment for the controller consists of wiping 
the copper contact points with a clean rag and a small quantity 
of vaseline. The oils and grease used should be of good quality 
and free from acid and grit. If dirt works into any of the 
bearings it should be washed out thoroughly with gasoline or 
kerosene, and repacked with good grease. 
Adjustments are required from time to time, such as tightening 
nuts, screws, chains, brakes, etc., and may readily be made after 
an inspection of the mechanism, and with the aid of the instruc¬ 
tion book supplied by the manufacturer. In normal service these 
minor adjustments are generally sufficient, except for the yearly 
overhauling, which should be done by a competent mechanic. The 
object of the yearly overhauling is for the renewal of such parts 
as may be necessary, such as chains, sprockets, gears, bearings, 
etc., and for the rigid inspection of parts which may be badly 
worn, the replacement of which will reduce the possibility of a 
breakdown, while working, to a minimum. 
Oil cups and grease cups are provided at such points in the 
springs as are necesarv to reduce friction, and a small quantity 
of oil should be applied, or the grease cups given a turn daily. 
This will prevent bolts and bushings from grinding and wearing 
out rapidly. The spring clips should also be tightened, so that 
the spring rests firmly upon its seat without play. Squeaking 
or grinding sounds are caused by friction between the leaves 
of the springs and may be eliminated by lubricating such surfaces. 
In prying the leaves apart for this purpose care should be taken 
not to damage the leaf-points. 
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