In the majority of electric vehicles the power is applied to the rear axle, but some are made with the motors geared to the front axle. In a few of these designs the wheels and axle are made the same as in an ordinary carriage, so as to swing round a pivot or king bolt located at the center of the axle and reinforced by a fifth wheel. When this construction is used the steering gear is made so as to hold the axle in position more firmly than in the other designs; but even with this assistance the driver has a harder task than with the independently swinging wheels. The advantage derived from swinging the whole axle is that the carriage can be turned round in a very small space, and on that account the construction is well adapted to cabs. Several arrangements have been devised by means of which the power can be applied to the front wheels, while these may at the same time swing round independent centers. One of these constructions is illustrated in Fig. 13, the first drawing presenting the appearance when seen from above, the second being a view from the front. In the first diagram the motor is shown at _A_, and by means of pinion _B_ and gear _C_, motion is transmitted to the axle, which is shown more clearly in the right-hand figure. On the ends of the axle are bevel gears _FF_, and these mesh into other bevel gears which revolve round the vertical studs _D_. Through this train of gearing the bevel wheels _E_ are driven, and these are attached to the hubs of the carriage wheels. From the first diagram of Fig. 13 it can be seen at once that the gears _EE_ can swing round _D_ in either direction without in any way interfering with the transmission of motion from gears _FF_. The levers _HH_ are secured to the sleeves _GG_ which swing round the studs _DD_, hence, by connecting these with the rod _J_ and moving the latter to one side or the other by means of the steering handle, the wheels are turned in any direction desired. [Illustration: FIG. 14. KRIEGER COUPÉ.] While this construction renders the carriage as easy to steer as those in which the motors are connected with the rear axle, it sacrifices the advantage derived from applying the power to the front wheels, namely, the ability to turn round in a small space. Another design for driving the front wheels which allows them to swing round independent pivots, is shown in Fig. 14, which is a coupé made by Krieger in France. The power is supplied by two motors, one being mounted on each swivel point. The construction can be understood by considering that in the lower part of Fig. 13 the motor would be secured to a suitable support at the end of the frame _L_, being held in such a position that the shaft would replace pivot _D_ and a pinion mounted thereon would gear into wheel _E_. What the advantage of this construction may be, the writer is not able to point out; it certainly shows, however, that there are many ways in which the object sought may be accomplished.