U.S. Army's Leadership Role in Advancing Fuel Cell Technologies Showcased At SAE 2003 World Congress

Dual-Use Technologies for Commercial and Military Applications on Display

WARREN, Mich., Feb. 20 -- The United States Army Tank- automotive and Armaments Command's National Automotive Center (NAC) will exhibit the Army's continuing role in developing fuel cells and a broad range of cutting-edge ground vehicle technologies at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) 2003 World Congress in Detroit's Cobo Center, March 3-6, 2003. The Army's three display booths will demonstrate innovations that improve vehicle efficiency, safety and endurance while reducing design, manufacturing, and operation and maintenance costs.

General Paul J. Kern, Commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Command, will deliver the keynote address at the SAE 2003 World Congress on Tuesday, March 4. The General will address the future of military ground propulsion and give an update on the Army's advancement of vehicle technologies through automotive industry partnerships.

Some of the technologies that NAC engineers are advancing will be on display at this year's show. They include military vehicle fuel cell technology, alternative fuels, hybrid hydraulic vehicle propulsion systems, motion capture/human modeling for simulation-based evaluation of ground vehicle design, 42-volt automotive electrical systems and an Omni-Directional Inspection System (ODIS) robot and trainer.

One of the current key areas of research and development for NAC engineers is fuel cell technology. The Army continues to partner and share costs with fuel cell and automotive companies to develop fuel cell technologies that meet commercial and military needs. This important technology has near-term and future benefits to the military. Currently, the Army fuel cell strategy is to focus on fuel cell auxiliary power units (APUs) for near-term benefit; lead early demonstrations of hydrogen-fueled fuel cell powered cars, light trucks and buses on military installations; and pursue technologies that adapt commercial fuel cell propulsion to military vehicle propulsion.

SmarTruck II, which was unveiled in January at the North American International Auto Show, will also be on display. SmarTruck II is a versatile prototype, multi-purpose vehicle capable of both counterterrorism and homeland security uses. This innovative 6x6 all-wheel drive vehicle's modular design allows it to be easily adapted to also meet a variety of community service and humanitarian missions. The technology enhancements to this vehicle are truly formidable.

The COMmercialy BAsed Tactical Truck (COMBATT), another example of a program partnership with industry, will be on display in the General Motors and DaimlerChrysler exhibit booths. This modified commercial heavy-duty pickup is engineered to provide the Army a vehicle with enhanced off-road mobility, better durability in a military environment, state-of-the-art technologies and reduced acquisition and ownership costs. Hybrid technology is now being incorporated into the program.

The Army is at the forefront of emerging vehicle technologies and has developed long-term partnerships with the automotive industry to assure that new dual-use technologies can be obtained without duplication and waste. The Army is committed to the use of alternative power sources as evidenced by the hybrid electric and fuel cell vehicles that are already being tested in the field.

Key NAC engineers and scientists participate on SAE committees to share research with other academic, industry and government organizations to develop standards in their particular area of expertise.

The National Automotive Center is the Army's official link to working with commercial industry and academia partners to create new vehicles that will give the Army the mobility, survivability and agility it needs to operate efficiently and effectively in today's new threat environment. For the military, the NAC's partnership approach makes it possible to improve vehicle performance, safety and endurance while reducing design, manufacturing, operations and maintenance costs. For commercial partners, the application of jointly developed technologies has similar impacts ... safer cars and trucks, more advanced technology available to the consumer and lower cost because of the broader market base.