Controllers are used, as on electric cars, the lever for starting, stopping, etc., being usually placed on the left-hand side of the seat. The steering is done by a lever that moves the front wheels. Strong brakes, and the ability to quickly reverse the motors, allow electric carriages to be stopped suddenly in case of accidents.
Electric automobiles are largely used in cities, or where the current can be easily had. The batteries must be re-charged after they have run the motors for a certain time which depends upon the speed and road, as well as upon the construction. Where carriages are to be run almost constantly, as is the case with those used for general passenger service in cities, duplicate batteries are necessary, so that one or two sets can be charged while another is in use. Fig. 248 shows one form of electric vehicle, the storage batteries being placed under and back of the seat.
Fig. 248.
CHAPTER XXVI.
A WORD ABOUT CENTRAL STATIONS.
Fig. 249.
170. Central Stations, as the word implies, are places where, for example, electricity is generated for the incandescent or arc lights used in a certain neighborhood; where telephone or telegraph messages are sent to be resent to some other station; where operators are kept to switch different lines together, so that those on one line can talk to those on another, etc., etc. There are many kinds of central stations, each requiring a large amount of special apparatus to carry on the work. Fig. 249 gives a hint in regard to the way car lines get their power from a central power station. As a large part of the apparatus required in ordinary central stations has already been described, it is not necessary to go into the details of such stations.