From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Road test report page detailing the advantages and disadvantages of a car's performance, focusing on the electrical system and drive.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\D\February1920\ Scan34 | |
| Date | 6th August 1920 | |
| R R.{Sir Henry Royce} 235 A (100 T) (S.F 846 6-8-19) G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} 2460 -4- Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1/L06.8.20. ---------------- Contd. a lot of sparking at the generator brushes when running on the low gears. We tried the car again up the hill and the second time ran with the spur reduction engaged. We found then that we could run on the direct electrically and that the car went up the hill twice as fast - 20 M.P.H. at the worst point. The other main disadvantages noticeable on the road is the fact that if the car is running along under power and the throttle is shut, the car free-wheels along with no braking but to pick up the drive again it is necessary to run the engine at a speed in proportion to the car speed, this means that if the car is running at 40 M.P.H. the engine races away before it picks up the drive. Another disadvantage is the fact that owing to the engine and the car being free from each other, when over-running it is very easy to stop the engine. Although the car can be started again electrically with the car moving it means a nasty jerk in the process. There is on this car an electrical brake It comes into operation if the selector lever for the electrical gear is put into neutral position with the car running along. This brake depends for its effectiveness on the car speed. It is noticeable, however, that when this brake is applied there is a lot of sparking taking place at the brushes of the motor. The outstanding advantage of the car is the fact that there is an entire absence of chunking in the drive. It does not matter if the engine is only firing on one or two or any number of cylinders, the car goes along smoothly. We do not consider, that the free-wheeling is good. Contd | ||