Hybrid-electric propulsion for new combat vehicles

Soldiers Magazine, Nov, 2007 by Don Wagner

WARREN, Mich.

THE Army recently unveiled its first hybrid-electric propulsion system for a new fleet of Manned Ground Vehicles. The service is developing and building eight new MGV variants for 15 Future Combat Systems brigade combat teams.

All eight commonly designed MGV variants will provide Soldiers with enhanced survivability, increased speed and mobility, new network-based capabilities, and more modern, modular technology.

The Army is saving money by employing a common chassis across all eight MGV variants. The MGV chassis reduce design, production and sustainment costs.

For the first time, the Army will be integrating a functional hybrid-electronic drive system into a combat vehicle. The drive system is part of the propulsion system that will power the vehicles.

The Army is using hybrid-electric power because the more modern FCS BCTs have much greater electrical power requirements than the current-force heavy BCTs. Hybrid-electric vehicles provide the requisite electrical power by employing a rechargeable energy-storage system. An ancillary benefit of the hybrid-electric vehicles is improved fuel economy and less reliance on oil, natural gas and other fossil fuels.

The first hybrid-electric MGV variant, the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon, will begin production in 2008.

--Army News Service

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