U.S. Army Pursuing Energy Efficiency Projects

By Craig Taylor

January 7, 2010

The U.S. Army has been awarded more than $14 billion in federal funds to pursue important military and energy efficiency projects, and some of these technologies will be showcased at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit later this month.

TARDEC, the U.S. Army’s lead organization for ground vehicle systems integration, engineering and technology development, will display its very latest in hybrid-electric (HE) vehicle technology and military stealth, along with advanced energy and battery developments.

"In keeping with the nation's interest in fuel efficiency, renewable power and energy security, TARDEC is fully engaged in ambitious programs that push development of hybrid electric vehicles for U.S. military use," noted TARDEC National Automotive Center (NAC) Director Paul Skalny. “The organization is also pursuing advanced technologies in areas like energy storage, power and thermal management, robotics, survivability and vehicle platform design that not only benefit our soldiers, but have commercial applications as well.”

TARDEC’s exhibit will also feature the APD, a robotic system that is capable of reaching speeds of up to 50 miles per hour and is helping engineers to develop, integrate and test next-generation unmanned ground vehicle mobility technologies.

The new CERV is a surveillance and reconnaissance vehicle that can maintain speeds of 80 miles per hour and climb 60 percent grades—all while reducing fuel consumption by up to 25 percent compared with conventional vehicles of comparable size.

The U.S. Army is the owner and operator of the world’s largest fleet of ground vehicles. The new HE vehicle technology and other alternative fuel energy programs will address fuel consumption and also help reduce risk of insurgent attacks on soldiers on the road delivering fuel. The Army is also looking into how much longer troops could operate in austere environments if conventional fuel wasn’t a challenge.