U.S. Army Materiel Command to Address Fuel Usage and More Sustainable Future at MPG Meeting

LOS ANGELES--Jan. 29, 2013: The U.S. Army is the largest fuel consumer in the world and operates one of the world's largest ground fleets. On Feb. 5, the Motor Press Guild (MPG) will host Dr. Grace M. Bochenek, Chief Technology Officer for the U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC), at the Proud Bird Restaurant to discuss the Army's strides towards reducing fuel consumption while providing soldiers with enhanced capabilities.  

Transportation, rising costs and the fragility of fuel and energy sources pose an increasing risk to the Army's effectiveness and soldiers. To meet the high energy demands while operating in diverse and challenging terrains, the Department of Defense is developing more efficient vehicles to reduce dependence on fuel, harnessing advanced biofuels and deploying energy efficient and renewable energy technologies. 

To better illustrate some of these advancements, the Army will have its Fuel Efficient ground vehicle Demonstrator (FED) Alpha on display at the February meeting. The FED Alpha evaluates various vehicle technologies to improve energy efficiency, while also looking at the tactical capabilities. The fuel-efficient enhancements include a high efficiency diesel engine, low rolling resistance tires, an integrated starter generator, six speed automatic transmission and lightweight low drag braking system. The FED Alpha has maximized fuel efficiency by 70 percent within the government's cost, timing and threshold requirements, while also improving soldier safety.

The U.S. Army Materiel Command is the lead agency for development, delivery and sustainment of materiel for the U.S. and its Allies. Dr. Bochenek serves as the senior civilian technical authority for science, technology and engineering, and is responsible for the long-term research, development and engineering transformation strategy for AMC.  Prior to this role, Dr. Bochenek served as director of the U.S. Army's Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), the premier laboratory for advanced military automotive technology.