Military vehicles could benefit from hybrid electric engines.

• Author: Colucci, Frank

Hybrid trucks that blend electric motors with internal combustion engines promise fuel efficiency, as well as plentiful, stealthy sources of electrical power for battlefield sensors, weapons, and command and control systems.

The National Automotive Center, which reports to the Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command, sponsored in recent years light, medium and heavy hybrid-electric truck demonstrators. The upcoming Future Tactical Truck System (FTTS) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration will pursue motor, generator, energy storage and power control technologies. According to NAC Deputy Director Paul Skalny, "The beauty of doing it is we move from investment in components to full-up systems in the bands of soldiers."

The FTTS program will seek hybrid electric propulsion, intelligent load-handling, diagnostics for two-level maintenance and other advanced truck technologies. Phase I ACTD contracts cover modeling and simulation efforts for two versions--a heavy (Class 7-8) maneuver sustainment truck and a lighter (Class 2B) utility vehicle. The Humvee-like variant potentially could serve as a command and control vehicle.

Phase II contracts, to be awarded in February or March 2004, are expected to lead to vehicle deliveries in 2006. Program officials anticipate that multiple contract winners will be asked to produce seven maneuver sustainment trucks and 10 utility vehicles.

A Stryker brigade squad with seven maneuver sustainment and two utility demonstrators will assess FTTS technologies in the field. "You focus on what you can do with technologies to impact both the current force and the future force," says Skalny.

According to the Defense Science Board, fuel takes up about 70 percent of the logistical tonnage in a heavy armored division. The Department of Defense estimated that a gallon of fuel, if flown into the theater, can cost up to $600. The Army expects hybrid-electric trucks and the hybrid-electric Future Combat Systems (FCS) to help the service attain its stated objective of 75 percent lower fuel consumption by 2020.

One-off demonstrators show promise, contractors said. Oshkosh Truck Corp. expects its ProPulse hybrid-electric HEMTT (Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck) to burn up to 40 percent less fuel than a conventional HEMTT, depending on the mission.

Under contract to Boeing and SAIC, BAE Systems demonstrated a hybrid drive on an FMTV (Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles) truck. "If you don't see 30 to 35 percent [better] fuel efficiency, you probably don't have it adjusted properly," said Cliff Plummet, manager for advanced military systems at BAE.

While the pricetag of hybrid-electric propulsion is tough to justify in...