Ebay: 1981 Bedford CF DORMOBILE - UK

"Classic 1981 Bedford CF Facelift 250 Camper Van Genuine Dormobile 3 Berth Pop Top Conversion. 8 Months MOT - Low mileage for year - only 88,612 =2,500 miles/year.
The van is in reasonable condition for a 35 year old vehicle as you can see from the pictures but is in need of some tlc.
It has all the usual campervan features:
Cooker; Sink; Water Tank; Electric Hook-Up; Huge Double Bed; 240V Lighting.
Good points:
Long MOT; looks ok from a distance; drives and stops; a very roomy van; fantastic 70s style Scoobydoo wagon (if you like that sort of thing); electric fuel pump fitted - starts every time!!!!; great rear seating arrangement; very comfy front seats
Not so good points:
Fridge has been removed (apparently a previous owner put in a standard electric domestic mains fridge and just plugged it into the mains socket!!) - Space and vent are there for a replacement 3-way campervan fridge; No leisure battery; Hook-up lead is missing; MOT advisory - some corrosion to rear wheel arch corners; Mechanically could do with a service; 3rd berth is a stretcher bed in the roof space which is fine for a child or very slim adult. Interior is rough and could do with a refurb. Some interesting hand painting around the roof guttering. Has got dings and dents as you would expect for a 35 year old large vehicle.
I bought this van as a running project but my wife hates it and have now bought something newer and more modern. I bought the van in June from an old guy of 86 who could no longer drive it - its heavy and does not have power steering. He told me that it had a replacement cam belt when he got it back on the road (I have the old one in a box). I reckon it had stood for some time before being put back on the road so I would suggest it would benefit from a good service.
It can be used as is or with a bit of time and effort turned into a really great looking van.
..."

Location: Welwyn, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

Starting bid: £785.00 ...

Ebay item number: 151863602254

“Electron Guzzler” - 1985 GMC Griffon Van

Continuing the posts on the Griffon Electric vans that were imported into the United States, here we have one of those 36 test vans that has fortunately survived and is in private hands. These are super rare vans, the first one I found for sale in California and this one is located in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The owner, John Fletcher, has nick named it the “Electron Guzzler”. This one has a sliding side door that was also a rare factory option. The EV web page where this van was posted was last updated in 2009, so we don't know the current state of this Griffon.

"Vehicle: 1985 GMC Griffon Basically a British Bedford CF2 Electric built with left-hand drive and badged "Griffon" for the import to the U.S.
- Motor: Lucas MT-305 Separately Excited DC 216V, 40kW continuous
- Drivetrain: "Direct drive" 1.92:1 step-down via chain/sprocket drive from motor shaft to driveshaft. 4.89:1 rear axle ratio.
- Controller: Lucas Mark 4A Large box sitting where engine would have been. Solid early 1980s technology. Very effective variable regenerative braking.
- Batteries: 36 Interstate U-2000, 6.00 Volt, Lead-Acid, Flooded Original traction batteries were Chloride tubular plate type. Nice batteries from what I hear, but were long gone by the time I got this van. System Voltage 216 Volts Charger Zivan NG3 Also use a homebrew variac-based charger (120V input) for occasional mild equalizing charges
- Heater: Currently none
- DC/DC Converter: Lucas 216V nominal input, 14V output @ 25A max.
- Instrumentation Stock: - Speedometer - Battery SOC meter I've added: - +/- 250A ammeter to measure motor current (forward and regen) - Battery pack voltmeter Would like to add soon: - E-meter for more accurate SOC readings
- Top Speed: 55 MPH (88 KPH)
- Acceleration: Direct drive means good acceleration up to about 35 mph. Takes a while to get up to 50-55 mph unless you are going downhill. Doesn't take uphills at high speed.
- Range: 40 Miles (64 Kilometers) Have never taken it that far, but stock SOC meter indicated plenty of battery capacity remaining after a 20 mile drive.
- Watt Hours/Mile: 800 Wh/Mile A rough estimate... will have more solid numbers in the future. 
- Seating Capacity: In normal configuration with batteries in tray: 4 passengers (plus driver) In current temporary configuration with bench seat removed: 1 passenger (it's the largest 2-seater EV on the road).

This van is currently in temporary configuration with the batteries inside on the bed (original bench seat removed). There is an original battery tray that hangs underneath the chassis. When I've painted the battery tray, I'll put the batteries back in it and re-install the bench seat.

Side mirrors are GM, not original Bedford. This van originally had Bedford mirrors, but a previous owner replaced them with the GM units.

Will post more photos of the interior when I've moved the batteries back into the tray, replaced the seat, and cleaned up the interior somewhat.

Thanks to my friend Dick Potteiger for spending hours restoring the long-neglected exterior paint finish."

Source: http://www.evalbum.com/2795

History: GM's Electric Van (1988)

Out on the tarmac of the San Francisco International Air-port, a van bearing United Airlines colors makes its rounds. The van is readily identified as a General Motors product, even at night, when it's usually employed. The vehicle is used by the swing and graveyard shifts of the airline's aircraft engineering group to deliver tools and equipment to technicians servicing United jetliners. The van moves from one area to another, rarely traveling more than three miles in a spurt. When it's not being driven, it sits idling with its lights on and its electrical systems operating. In cold or wet weather, the wipers and heaters are left running as well.

Among the multitude of vans in United's vehicle fleet at maintenance bases both in San Francisco and at Chicago's O'Hare Airport, this van is unique. It is absolutely silent when it's being driven. It produces no pollution. It is electric.

Bob Matkovich, a staff engineer with United's fleet management operations in its ground equipment and maintenance group, rates the electric van's operations highly. "We've had the vehicle in service more than two years, and we've had no problems, no major repairs, and little downtime. The van is typical of more than 100 electric vehicles we use, such as baggage tractors, belt loaders, and container loaders," Matkovich says. "Electric vehicles give us the reliability we need, and this van is so reliable we don't even have a maintenance history on it."

Echoing Matkovich's praise of the electric van is Dick Thayer, foreman of plant and ground equipment maintenance. "I think electric vehicles definitely have a place here," he says. "They're quiet, pollution-free, and maintenance-free. In the time we've had the electric van, we've had few problems. Once the battery tray had to be removed to be straightened after a minor accident when the van was driven over an aircraft part and the tray frame was bent. And the lever operating the windshield wipers has been torn off several times by people who thought it was a gear shift."

Doug McMahon, lead mechanic at United's San Francisco maintenance base, reports, "It's a very good vehicle. We've had no maintenance problems whatsoever, and the people who drive it like it." Maintenance, according to McMahon, consists of recharging the batteries and replenishing the battery water supply. Water replenishment, done on the average of once a month, requires hooking up to an automatic watering trolley. "We just attach quick-disconnect couplings to receptacles under the hood and leave it alone," McMahon explains. "When the water level is correct, the equipment shuts off. It takes a few minutes at most." To recharge the batteries takes from eight to 14 hours, according to McMahon. Recharging is typically done during daylight hours when the vehicle is out of service. Lines from a dolly-type charger, specifically designed to service the vehicle, are plugged in under the hood, and the batteries are automatically recharged.

The United Airlines GM van is one of 36 originally shipped to North America for testing and evaluation. All of these units were manufactured in the United Kingdom by Bedford Commercial Vehicles, a division of General Motors Overseas Commercial Vehicle Corp., in cooperation with Lucas Chloride EV Systems Ltd. The vans, based on GM's G-van but slightly smaller, are called Griffons. Coordination of the electric van program in the U.S.is handled through the Electric Vehicle Development Corp. (EVDC), since the production of vehicles was stopped in England.

The program began with a shipment of four vehicles to the U.S. in 1984, according to Dave Harris, operations manager-North America for Lucas Chloride. In 1986, further deployment resulted in the increase to 36 Griffon electric vans, 31 shipped to the U.S. and five to Canada. The van began its life as a chassis, or glider, with no engine or transmission. The van is upfitted with electric components consisting of a drive motor, battery pack, and controller, which form the drive system.

Since 1977, more than 100 prototype electric vans have traveled more than 1.5 million operational miles throughout the world. During 1986 the North American GM Griffons accumulated more than 200,000 miles of use. The vans have proven to be traffic compatible, which means they can maintain normal street and highway speeds, and are cost efficient. The Griffin's top speed is 50 to 60 mph, with acceleration from 0 to 30 mph in 11 to 13 seconds. The van's range is 50 to 60 miles before recommended recharging. The electric van's operating costs are competitive with those of a gasoline-powered van. In United Airlines fleet service, the GM electric van cost under $2.00 per hour. Calculating the performance comparison, Bedford/GM began with annual mileage of 11,250, or 45 miles per day, five days per week, as the working range of the vehicle. The data assumed an eight-year in-service life for the vehicle. The higher depreciation costs were offset by the lower maintenance costs, and the cost of the battery over its four-year life were offset by substantially reduced fuel costs. However, when the electric van is compared to the gas-powered van over a six-year life cycle, the electric van came out ahead in cost savings.

Because of interest and enthusiasm from van-fleet operators and increased pressure from environmental agencies across the U.S. for the deployment of vehicles using alternate fuels, the electric van is rapidly gaining acceptance. It is projected that the potential for the electric vehicle market for various truck models, including vans, will approximate 300,000 units by 1992.

That projection results from data collected by the EVDC, which is a nonprofit group funded by membership dues from utilities, vehicle manufacturers, and various other institutions. EVDC was formed as an extension of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to promote the commercial and market development for electric vehicles.

According to Brunner, national results of a recently-conducted survey in the 30 leading urban markets, representing 50 percent of all the commercial fleets in the U.S., indicate that current-technology vehicles, such as the GM electric van, could potentially replace 137,000 vans in commercial fleets in those top 30 markets alone.

According to Jack Davis, fleet account executive for Chevrolet Motor Division, Chevrolet plans to market an electric G-van model (CG11305) with a 6,600 GVWR beginning in September or October this year. The vehicle will be a 1989-model-year van featuring a cruising range of 50 to 60 miles and carrying a one-and-a-half-ton payload. The electric van will be produced at GM's Lordstown, OH plant and shipped as a glider for the aftermarket installation of a Chloride electric power unit.

"A market will really develop among large fleets in metropolitan areas, where we anticipate additional incentives for air quality," he predicts. "For example, New York City is mandating the percentages of electric vehicles in fleets and considering free parking for electric vehicles, which could be a considerable savings in fleet budgets."


Source: Automotive Fleet Magazine, March 1988

History: Electric CF wins US order (1985)

"FOLLOWING the success of a single evaluation vehicle, Bedford Commercial Vehicles is to supply a further 35 electric CF vans to the United States for extended operational trials.

The purchase of the vans is being co-ordinated by the US Electric Vehicle Development Corporation, which represents public utilities.
The EVDC chose the electric CF — called the GM Griffon in America — following independent tests carried out with four other manufacturers of electric vehicles.
Phase two of the EVDC programme is being carried out jointly with the Electric Power Research Institute, General Motors, Bedford and Lucas Chloride EV Systems.
It will assess the suitability of the electric CF van for fleet operations in America and establish a system for servicing it in North America and Canada.
The project will also identify potential electric van customers and develop marketing strategies to attract them.
The first six electric vans will go to the Detroit Edison power company.
Over 300 electric CF vans have already been built by Bedford at its Luton van plant and some are currently being evaluated in the UK and Europe. The Post Office is running 40 electric CFs as part of an electric van test programme (CM, November 10, 1984)."

Source: COMMERCIAL MOTOR - October 5, 1985

Bedford Blitz mit Dormodach

Source: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/67393483

Bedford CF - Classic Van and Pickup Show 2015

Classic Van and Pickup Show - Heritage Motor Centre - Gaydon, UK - 9 August 2015

Source: www.flickr.com/photos/44947474@N08/21731823446