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MARCH 27, 10:47 EST
WARREN, Mich. -- U.S. Army vehicle designers are considering the possibility of building hybrid-electric versions of the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) -- better known as the Humvee -- that are able to operate silently.
Officials of the Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) in Warren, Mich., are sending the word out to industry to determine who may be interested in developing such a vehicle.
Hybrid-electric vehicles combine the internal combustion engine of a conventional vehicle with the battery and electric motor of an electric vehicle, which offers extended range, rapid refueling, low emissions, and near-silent operation in electric mode.
If TACOM officials decide to go ahead with the project, they say they will provide between four and 12 Humvees for the chosen contractor to convert into hybrid-electric Humvees for government testing. The Army ultimately may order between 1,500 and 20,000 of these vehicles.
A hybrid-electric Humvee must reduce fuel consumption by 30 percent, be transportable aboard a C-130 aircraft, provide continuous auxiliary power, not degrade existing Humvee capabilities, and must be able to operate silently.
Any interested company must respond by April 19 with a short and concise e-mail to David Greer at greerd@tacom.army.mil. For questions, or for more information, contact Greer by phone at 586-574-8898, or on the World Wide Web at http://contracting.tacom.army.mil/.
In the e-mail, provide company contact information, details of hybrid-electric experience, information on testing to date, familiarity with power management, and experience with integrating hybrid-electric technology into vehicles.
Military & Aerospace Electronics
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