DaimlerChrysler, U.S. Army to Adapt Environmentally-friendly Dodge Ram HEV for Military Applications

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 15 DaimlerChrysler Corporation
and the U.S. Army Tank Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM) - National
Automotive Center (NAC) will develop a military version of the automaker's
environmentally-friendly Dodge Ram HEV hybrid electric pickup truck.
    Under the agreement, DaimlerChrysler will design, build and test the
military version of the Ram HEV for TACOM, based in Warren, Michigan.  The
vehicle will be designed to meet requirements of the Army's Commercially Based
Tactical Truck (COMBATT) program.  The project is expected to run through
April 2002.
    "This is a wonderful partnering opportunity for the Army to share in
technology development with DaimlerChrysler.  This effort is a part of the
Army's 21st Century Truck Initiative that has goals of building more fuel
efficient, smarter and safer trucks for our future force," said Dennis Wend,
Director of the NAC, which is the Tank Automotive Research, Development, and
Engineering Center's (TARDEC) principal conduit for technology transfer from
the automotive industry into the Army's ground vehicles research/development
projects.
    The vehicle developed for the Army will be based on the 2002 Dodge Ram
2500 pickup equipped with a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain.  The vehicle
can be operated in either diesel-electric hybrid or electric-only mode.  When
parked, the vehicle's hybrid powertrain components can be used to provide up
to 20 kW of continuous electrical power to operate electrical equipment at
remote sites.
    "This is an exciting project for DaimlerChrysler, and we are pleased to be
working with the U.S. Army," said Bernard I. Robertson, Senior Vice President-
Engineering Technologies & Regulatory Affairs and General Manager-Truck
Operations at DaimlerChrysler.
    "The Dodge Ram HEV's clean hybrid technology is an ideal way to meet the
off-site electrical generating capacity needs of construction contractors,
farmers, campers and even homeowners.  Now we have the opportunity to adapt
this environmentally-friendly technology to our national defense needs."
    DaimlerChrysler has already announced plans to sell the Dodge Ram HEV
commercially beginning in 2004.  The vehicle, based on the popular Ram pickup,
will be available in 1500 and 2500 models with either two-wheel or four-wheel
drive and equipped with different diesel and gasoline engines.  The electric
motor provides power assist of 55 kW, or about 74 horsepower.  The hybrid
powertrain results in fuel efficiency improvements of up to 20 percent as well
as reduced tailpipe emissions.
    At remote locations, the vehicle's hybrid propulsion components can be
converted into a stationary electrical generator capable of delivering up to
30 kW peak power or 20 kW of continuous power.  The additional components add
250-300 pounds to the vehicle's weight, compared with 2,500 pounds or more for
a conventional generator with similar capacity.  The Ram HEV's generator is
accessed through electrical connections in a pull-down box located behind the
cab in the side of the pickup box.
    The generator on the Ram HEV will be much cleaner than conventional
portable generators, because it will be powered by the vehicle's clean hybrid
powertrain.
    The vehicle developed for the Army will capitalize on several of the Ram
HEV's capabilities:
    *  On-board battery capacity enabling a "Stealth" operating mode and
       "Silent Watch" capability.
    *  20 kW continuous electricity generation available to power on-board and
       off-board equipment, enough to power four to eight homes.
    *  30 kW of peak electric power for up to 1 minute.
    *  Elimination of the need for off-board generators which currently must
       be towed to sites to power mobile Command & Control Centers,
       Surveillance Posts, Communications Centers, Maintenance Equipment and
       other apparatus.  Elimination of off-board generators will result in:
       Decreased weight, noise, heat and exhaust emissions.
    *  Increased space available for equipment and personnel.
    *  Reduced installation complexity and maintenance.
    "The special capabilities of the Dodge Ram HEV should increase consumers'
interest in the hybrid version of our Ram pickup and thus help us build the
market for this clean, fuel efficient technology.  This new military
application will take us another step further in capitalizing on the
capabilities of hybrid technology," said DaimlerChrysler's Robertson.