Army Hybrid-Electric Truck Set to Be Fielded

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 22 -- Heavy duty hybrid-electric trucks will be the cornerstone of the Army's new transition force of the U.S. military's and America's future fleet of commercial, heavy-duty trucks by the middle of the decade.

``The Army is leading this nation's research into hybrid-electric and advanced propulsion technology in trucks,'' Paul Skalny, Deputy Director of the U.S. Army's National Automotive Center, told attendees at the at the Hybrid- electric truck users forum here today. He underscored recent announcements made by Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and Sen. Carl Levin calling for collaboration and innovation by the federal government on investments into new advanced vehicle technologies.``

Hybrid-electric propulsion technology has great potential for transforming the utility of our military's 250,000 vehicle fleet and America's commercial fleet of light and heavy duty trucks,`` said Skalny.

``With the current advancements in hybrid-electric technologies we will field a fleet of more fuel-efficient trucks that increases our capabilities throughout the fighting force,'' Skalny told participants at the forum. ``We also will use this technology to reduce harmful emissions and enhance our overall energy security.''

The forum, co-sponsored by the NAC, in association with WestStart-CALSTART, marks the formation of a ``Hybrid-Electric Truck Users Forum'' aimed at energizing the commercialization of hybrid-electric trucks to significantly reduce fuel use in heavy trucks.

``The only way we're going to accomplish these ambitious fuel efficiency goals is to accelerate emerging hybrid-electric drive train systems in heavy-duty vehicles. These systems are already demonstrating fuel economy improvements of 25 percent and hold out the promise of up to a 50 percent improvement. Hybrid-electric systems also significantly reduce emissions even while using conventional fuels. Various versions of these drive trains are now available from major core Heavy Duty Industry Suppliers.

Fleet and operator level input will assure a better fit with the needs of the industry. ``We're challenging the full spectrum of the American trucking industry to investigate a wide range of vehicle applications with a view to applying technical innovations developed for the U.S. Army and the U.S. commercial truck fleet,'' Skalny said. ``Future Army vehicles will be much, much lighter, but will have to have the same or even better survivability as the current fleet. Our goal is to transform the U.S. Army to a lighter, more mobile, more fuel-efficient force -- we'll only get there with active participation from the people designing and building America's truck fleet.''

``Right now, the Army fleet of vehicles needs to reduce fuel consumption 75 percent by the year 2010, while integrating more advanced technologies and lighter-weight materials,'' added Skalny.

``The Army needs to tap into industry if we are going to accelerate the infusion of advanced materials, and technologies,'' Skalny continued. ``Industry partnerships -- formed here today will play a key role in achieving requirements in improved fuel efficiency through the use of hybrid-electric technologies in future Army vehicles.

``The Army,'' Skalny said, ``spends $1 billion annually buying new vehicles and $2 billion per year to operate and maintain them, with fuel accounting for 70 percent of the bulk tonnage transported by Army vehicles when our military forces are in combat.

Based in Warren, Mich., the NAC is the U.S. Army's official link to industry and academia to develop dual-use technologies for defense and commercial applications, and has the lead role for the Department of Defense 21st Century Truck initiative to develop more fuel-efficient, affordable and safer vehicles.

For more information on WestStart-CALSTART, a non-profit organization, contact Fred Silver, at (626) 744-5687, or email at fsilver@calstart.org or go to their Web site at www.weststart.org .

A subordinate activity of the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM), NAC serves as the Army's agent for advancing the development of dual-use automotive technologies by industry, academia, and the military services. By cultivating relationships and forming cost-shared partnerships, the NAC accelerates the exchange and implementation of automotive technologies creating developmental savings that are shared by all participants.