[CPEO-MEF] Hybrid electric combat vehicles

[Lenny Siegel <lennysiegel@gmail.com>]

Army Unveils Hybrid-Electric Propulsion for Manned Ground Vehicle System

U.S. Army Release
Environmental Update
U.S. Army Environmental Center
Fall 2007


The Army announced its first hybrid-electric propulsion system for a new 
fleet of manned ground vehicles (MGVs) in August.

The system, the first hybrid system for a combat vehicle, is expected to 
propel all eight variants of the vehicle.

The Army is using hybrid-electric power because brigade combat teams 
equipped with the Future Combat System (FCS) will have much greater 
electrical power requirements than the current-force heavy brigade 
combat teams, according to an FCS program release.

Hybrid-electric vehicles provide enough electrical power with their 
rechargeable energy storage system. An added benefit is improved fuel 
economy and less reliance on oil, natural gas or other fossil fuels.

"The MGV drivetrain is unique," said Col. Bryan McVeigh, product manager 
for MGV systems integration. "The traditional engine has been de-coupled 
from the drive train architecture and is designed only to recharge the 
energy storage system and power the vehicular systems.

"The hybrid drive system alone," said McVeigh, "literally will move the 
vehicle. This is a new and better way of moving across the battlefield."

The Army is developing and building eight MGVs. All will provide 
Soldiers with enhanced survivability, increased speed and mobility, new 
network-based capabilities and more modern, modular technology. A common 
chassis reduces design, production and sustainment costs.

The first hybrid-electric MGV, the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon, will begin 
production in late 2008.

"Today's unveiling of our new MGV hybrid-electric propulsion system 
shows, once again, that Future Combat Systems really are about what's 
happening today," said Maj. Gen. Charles Cartwright, program manager for 
the Future Combat Systems Brigade Combat Teams.

"With new FCS technologies, the Army is providing state-of-the-art 
capabilities to our Soldiers sooner rather than later," Cartwright said.

Soldiers in the Army Evaluation Task Force will begin testing the first 
generation of mature FCS technologies this year at Fort Bliss. Once the 
task force has completed its evaluation, these technologies will become 
available for fielding to deployed forces. Precursor FCS technologies, 
including the PacBot Tactical Robot and Micro (Unmanned) Air Vehicle, 
already are being used by Solders in Iraq and Afghanistan.

FCS is the Army's principal modernization program. FCS consists of a 
family of manned and unmanned air and ground systems and sensors, all 
connected by a common network. FCS is designed specifically to improve 
Soldier situational awareness, survivability and battlefield 
effectiveness, while putting new capabilities into Soldier's hands as 
soon as the technology is ready.

--


Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org



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