Thursday, May 31, 2007

Green? No, it's about logistics

The Army Goes Green - Popular Mechanics The Army isn't interested in being green. They are interested in reducing their need for fuel, and still get the job done.A 20% reduction in fuel needs is not to be sneezed at. Not when it works
But a heavy-duty, military grade truck needs something beefier than an upscaled Prius drive train, so Oshkosh developed what it calls ProPulse technology: A diesel engine powers an electric generator, which then powers motors mounted directly to the wheels, powering the vehicle in much the same way as a diesel-electric locomotive.
No batteries, but ultra-capacitors, for storing energy during breaking.

And when you get to your destination, you have the ability to generate power (for hospitals, air control, whatever.) The A3 still hauls 13 tons, as its predecessors did, and can get to 65 MPH on gravel roads. Not to trashy.

The Army may not be interested in green, but eventually the trucking companies will come looking for that 20% savings. Not sure why they haven't already.

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