Electric Float to Debut in Rose Parade
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For the first time in the history of Pasadena’s Tournament of Roses Parade, Southern California Edison will sponsor a non-polluting float that is completely powered by electricity on New Year’s Day.
Lewis M. Phelps, Edison’s vice president of corporate communications, said engineers of the Rosemead-based company are providing float builder Fiesta Parade Floats of Azusa with two electric motors, two controllers and two battery packs. Each battery pack will contain 36 six-volt lead-acid batteries, the type used in Edison’s fleet of electric G-Vans.
One battery pack, fully charged, will provide the float with enough electricity to complete the 5 1/2-mile parade route traveling at 2 1/2 miles per hour, with the second battery pack providing backup if necessary.
The float will depict an electric car whizzing out of an animated fantasy solar system and over a pair of stately Egyptian Sphinxes, lining the roadway to the future.
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