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).
The fuel consumption of a 40/50 HP chassis, tyre efficiency, and potential improvements.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 183\M22\ img133 | |
| Date | 5th October 1920 | |
| Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} cars 27 MPG from 6EX ON 180 MILE JOURNEY FROM DERBY TO WW REF E1/L628-10-20 Extract from E1/G8.10.20. RE VISIT OF MESSRS. HIVES & DAY TO WEST WITTERINGHenry Royce's home town X.1698 TUESDAY. 5th October 1920. X.3056. X.3923. CONSUMPTION ON 40/50 H.P. CHASSIS. Chassis 6.EX was used for the journey, and did a consumption of 27 m.p.g. with the engine stopped when descending hills. Mr. Royce thinks we ought to have a demonstration of consumption, but with the clutch in and the engine turning over all the time, as in ordinary driving. Mr. Hives thought he could get 23 miles per gallon under these conditions, and said that any driver with a little tuition as regards not using brakes etc. would be able to obtain the same results. It was necessary for the car to be so free that it could be pushed about by hand, and also the tyres should be fairly hard. The Michelin Company were said to have demonstrated that cord type of tyre required less tractive effort than the canvas type. Mr. Royce thought that we should take a customer's driver only recently acquainted with R.R. cars, give him the necessary tuition, and see if he could obtain a good consumption. We should then be prepared to give a demonstration of this point. We should also find out in our experimental work whether it is possible to make an engine to run more freely by alterations to pistons etc. The thermostatic control of the water temperature also assists in obtaining good consumption. E GETS IN ON THE ACT. | ||