Military

DATE=01/12/03

TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT

TITLE=G-M MILITARY HYBRID

NUMBER=5-52849

BYLINE=JOHN BIRCHARD

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=

INTRO: A prototype for a new U-S military vehicle is a long way from the classic World War Two Jeep, and even the current Humvee. V-O-A's John Birchard reports on a pickup truck that could become the model for the Army's new fleet of light tactical vehicles by the end of this decade.

TEXT: General Motors (G-M) and the U-S Army have unveiled a diesel hybrid military pickup truck with a fuel cell auxiliary power unit.

In this context, a "hybrid" is a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors. The two power sources share the burden of moving the vehicle, and computers determine which one operates when. Also, a hybrid does not need to be plugged into an electrical outlet to re-charge batteries.

The prototype truck is a heavy-duty, militarized version of the commercial Chevrolet Silverado. The director of G-M Defense Military Trucks, George Baker, explains the main purpose of the vehicle.

/// BAKER ACT #1 ///

The army spends up to four-hundred dollars for each gallon of gasoline it has to transport into remote locations, like Afghanistan, by chopper. Then, if there's a way for us to introduce technologies to the Army that will significantly reduce their fuel consumption, then we figure -- and the army figures, as well -- that there's a potential of millions of dollars of savings to the U-S taxpayers.

/// END ACT ///

So, the primary goal is fuel efficiency. We asked George Baker to quantify the goal.

/// BAKER ACT #2 ///

Our objective here is to introduce this diesel-hybrid power train, which cuts fuel consumption by 20 percent, when compared to current technologies, and, when compared to gas (gasoline) engines, by up to 40 percent. So, that's a huge opportunity there.

/// END ACT ///

/// OPT /// Mr. Baker says the fuel cell auxiliary power unit (A-P-U) would provide troops with clean, reliable electric power. The quieter fuel cell version would replace the loud engine and battery-based stationary generators the Army now uses for field power. /// END OPT ///

The diesel hybrid truck is one of eight prototypes that G-M Defense will deliver to the Army for evaluation. By turning to commercial technology, the Army reduces development costs associated with acquiring a light tactical vehicle.

What does G-M get, beyond a possible contract to build the Army a few thousand vehicles? George Baker says there are civilian applications in the future.

/// BAKER ACT #3 ///

What we want to do, by working with the Army as partners, is to develop this technology . test it in the field, very rugged conditions . and to develop those lessons learned, so that, ultimately, several years down the road, we'll be able to provide this kind of technology -- diesel-hybrid power train and fuel cell auxiliary power units -- to customers like you and me on the street.

/// END ACT ///

This joint venture between General Motors and the U-S Army amounts to a sort of "preview of coming attractions" for civilian truck customers in years to come. (Signed)

NEB/JJB/TW