Army mulls developing high-voltage power control for next-generation electric and hybrid military vehicles

WARREN, Mich. – U.S. Army vetronics researchers are asking industry to develop a vehicle powertrain power controller that can handle voltages high enough to control power systems throughout next-generation electric and hybrid military armored vehicles.

Officials of the Army Contracting Command-Warren in Warren, Mich., issued a request for information (W56HZV_Powertrain_Power_Controller) this week for the Powertrain high-voltage Power Controller project.

The Army wants industry to develop a physical prototype to evaluate the feasibility of developing a powertrain high-voltage power controller to support the electrified mobility of future military vehicles like main battle tanks, armored personnel carriers, and light tactical vehicles.

The Army Contracting Command is issuing this request for information on behalf of the Vehicle Electronics and Architecture branch of the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command's Ground Vehicle Systems Center in Warren, Mich.

The vehicular power controllers available today do not support the high-voltage power levels necessary to support the electrified drive trains of future ground vehicles, Army researchers point out. This notice is to obtain information on how an interested contractor could provide a powertrain high-voltage power controller for ground vehicles.

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From industry, the Army wants a description of a powertrain high-voltage power controller that details its interfaces, performance specifications, environmental performance, design architecture, size, weight, power, cooling, cost, lead time for initial units, and lead time and delivery schedule for production units.

Increasing the capabilities of ground vehicles will require advanced, next-generation power controllers able to deliver high voltage to several channels at various currents within a wheeled or tracked vehicle.

The powertrain high-voltage power controller should have:

-- at least six 900-amp channels;

-- at least one 350-amp channel;

-- a safety interlock for each high-voltage channel;

-- at least one Controller Area Network (CAN) bus that meets the SAE J1939 industry standard for communication and diagnostics among vehicle components;

-- at least one 28-volt control power input that meets MIL-STD-1275E;

-- isolation of the high-voltage power bus from equipment chassis and control power by at least 10 mega-Ohms;

-- controllability of the opening and closing of channels via CANbus command;

-- the ability to monitor the voltage and current of each channel via CANbus; and

-- the ability to be cooled by ethylene glycol and water at 105 degrees Celsius.

Companies interested should email responses no later than 28 June 2018 to the Army's Andrew Greer at [email protected].

For questions or concerns contact the Army's Andrew Greer by email at [email protected] or by phone at 586-282-7356. Also email Jason Spina at [email protected].

More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/notices/b8649b0cc8aa056bc64c400ab0468daf.