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US Army Unveils Hybrid-Electric Propulsion System

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the we-look-for-things-things-that-make-us-go dept.

Gary writes to mention that the U.S. Army recently unveiled a new hybrid-electric propulsion system for use in a new line of manned ground vehicles (MGVs). The new line will have eight different variants, all using the same chassis. The unique feature of the new MGVs is that the traditional engine has been decoupled from the drive train and is used only to recharge the battery and power other systems within the vehicle.

4 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. Silence is golden by schwit1 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Being able to roll into your position quietly is a huge advantage. This was learned when Strykers replaced Bradleys when doing insurgent sweeps. The bad guys weren't aware nearly as soon.

  2. only the paint is green by spectrokid · · Score: 3, Insightful

    hybrid or not, this thing is going to pull around a gazillion tons of steel. Tanks are heavy, strong, maneuvrable. They are NOT green. I guess the idea has more to do with being able to drive in "stealth mode" for a couple of hundred meters.

    --

    10 ?"Hello World" life was simple then

    1. Re:only the paint is green by couchslug · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It does have to do with reducing fuel consumption, which is a huge logistics burden.

      The systems previously developed (this research predates FCS by many years) will go far more than a few hundred meters on batteries alone.
      Now that decent batteries are available, a hybrid AFV looks much better. They can easily drive heavy electrical loads to provide both weapon system and facility power, they can charge each other via slave cables, they provide full torque at zero RPM allowing very slow creep, and if properly sealed can be used for marine assault and fording rivers (even fully submerged with no snorkel) without fear of drowning out (and destroying) a diesel engine.

      This tech will give a huge boost other systems that would benefit from hybridization. Efficient small turbines like Capstone are already charging hybrid buses. These systems can burn clean fuels at optimum rpm, charge batteries, and make for very eco-friendly farm and construction equipment in the future.

      --
      "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
  3. Fuel worries by wonkavader · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Why don't we just invade some place with a lot of oil, then?

    Oh, wait...