Operational Energy: Army to Develop Electric Scout Vehicle in Pursuit Of Fuel Savings.

• Author: Luckenbaugh, Josh

COLUMBUS, Ohio --In the Army Climate Strategy published in 2022, the service set a major long-term goal: field fully electric tactical vehicles by 2050.

Through an incremental strategy involving near-, mid- and long-term objectives, the Army is taking steps to reduce fuel demand, increase the capability and eventually electrify its tactical vehicle fleet.

That includes the development of an Electric Light Reconnaissance Vehicle that will get underway this fiscal year after receiving funding from the Operational Energy - Innovation Directorate, which is the Defense Department's joint operational energy investment fund.

That money will "jumpstart the ELRV program this year," John Hufstedler, lead for Ground Mobility Vehicles, said at the National Defense Industrial Association's Tactical Wheeled Vehicles Conference.

The Army plans to also include funding for the Electric Light Reconnaissance Vehicle in its fiscal year 2024 budget, with the first prototype expected in fiscal year 2025, said deputy assistant secretary of the Army for sustainment Timothy Goddette.

The recon vehicle will be the Army's "step into" full electrification, said Brig. Gen. Samuel "Luke" Peterson, the program executive officer for combat support and combat service support.

The service is "going to learn a lot through that prototyping effort" for the vehicle, he added.

Peterson said: "The solution is not defined. It is wide open. There's a lot of trade space in there. But as a former Cavalry scout sitting on the edge somewhere, I got to know the power is there when I need it." While reducing emissions and fuel consumption is important, the "war-fighter in me is more concerned about the operational capability" electric vehicles will provide, he added.

Electrification will give the Army's tactical vehicles more capability, including silent watch and mobility and reduced thermal and acoustic signatures, said the product lead for integration in the program executive office for combat support and combat service support Steve Rogers.

And by taking an incremental approach, the Army is hoping that each phase in the process informs the next on the way to full electrification, Rogers said.

Tactical vehicle electrification is a "three-phase operation," Peterson said. The first phase is continuing the development of "capabilities I've got on my truck today" such as anti-idle kits, he added.

Soldiers often leave vehicles idling while conducting operations to ensure batteries and...