Military Hybrid Trucks to Undergo Tests

Two new hybrid electric trucks developed for the U.S. Army are being tested for operational service and this is according to UQM Technologies, Inc. The said hybrid trucks were developed by Armor Holdings using UQM’s electric propulsion technology. The tests are being conducted at Ft. Lewis in Washington.

Before the two hybrids underwent the Military Utility Assessment Testing, they have already been tested at the U.S. Army’s Aberdeen Proving Grounds first. The hybrid trucks performed well in the nearly 3,000 miles of testing and therefore all of them passed for the MUA tests.

The hybrid trucks are powered by electric motors developed by UQM which can produce as much as 120 kW. The development of the vehicles is in connection with the U.S. Army’s Future Tactical Truck System or FTTS. The program aims to create a cutting edge tactical wheeled vehicle which will give the U.S. Army quite an advantage in theaters around the world. The use of hybrid technology is also a response to the administration’s energy independence policy.

Chris Chambers, the Vice President of Programs and Business Development of Armor Holdings’ Tactical Vehicle System Division, has this to say about their partnership with UQM in developing the new hybrid trucks for the U.S. Army: “The MSV design and development exercise has overcome many of the hybrid technology challenges this class of vehicle presents. Our work with UQM puts us at the forefront of this area and we are particularly pleased to have had the opportunity to assist the Army as they scope their potential future tactical vehicle requirements.”

Armor Holdings is the leading producer of military vehicles. Its Tactical Vehicle Systems Division which supplies the U.S. Army with the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles.

UQM, on the other hand, is a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-performance electric motors for the different industries including the auto industry. William G. Rankin, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the company, has this to say about their partnership with Armor Holdings and the hybrid vehicles they have produced: “We are pleased to be a member of the Armor Holding’s team and have their vehicles move to this important next step of testing as part of the US Army’s Future Tactical Truck System program. The 120 kW UQM® electric propulsion systems powering these hybrid vehicles incorporate our latest technology advancements which further improve their performance, power density and efficiency, as well as their reliability, durability and cost. Armor Holdings’ plans to incorporate the lessons learned from conducting this demonstrator phase across their vehicle systems product development area to ensure that the U.S. Army continues to have available the most advanced tactical truck fleet in the world. The advantages of our systems are being recognized in a number of military vehicle applications, which we believe represents an important and growing market for the Company.”

The hybrid vehicles are expected to perform at a level like that of a truck equipped with conventional engine complete with auto gasket and other components. Whether the vehicles will be deployed on the field will be determined by the tests they are currently undergoing.