Army takes first step toward equipping tactical armored combat vehicles with stealthy electric engines
FORT BENNING, Ga. – U.S. Army Futures Command has given a green light to ground maneuver officials at Fort Benning, Ga., to find what it would take to outfit the service's tactical and combat vehicles with electric engines. Military.com reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
5 Oct. 2020 -- Fort Benning officials are planning a virtual Electrification Industry Day on 20 Oct. to share preliminary plans for the effort. The Army also partners with CALSTART, a nonprofit organization that works with businesses and governments to develop clean, efficient transportation.
Despite a long love affair with combustion engines, the auto industry has shown signs of moving toward electrification, and such a move could result in a reduced supply source of internal combustion engine parts and increased prices for those left, Army officials say.
Electric engines would be quieter in tactical settings and also simpler to maintain since they require far fewer parts than combustion engines. The technology also could increase the operational range of current vehicles, but one challenge the Army must overcome is how electric vehicles can be recharged reliably in remote battlefield settings.
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John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics
