Hybridization of US Army Combat Vehicles 2022-01-0371

As the global automotive market shifts towards electric vehicles, the United States Army must naturally consider this alternative for its combat vehicles. Indeed, electric vehicles offer numerous tactical advantages over traditional diesel engines, including higher torque at lower speeds and lower signature. Unfortunately, full electrification of most military vehicles is not feasible due to the weight of the requisite battery pack. However, the Army can take advantage of electric vehicles through hybrid power trains. Hybrid options allow for quiet, resilient, and powerful vehicles that are less constrained by battery technology. This study looks at the feasibility of hybrid power systems for military vehicles including the Infantry Squad Vehicle, the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, and the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. The analysis models standard drive profiles to determine the mileage and fuel consumption for traditional, hybrid, and electric powertrains for each vehicle. The hybrid variants include a plug-in hybrid version as well as an electric vehicle with a range extender. The analysis found that for these vehicles, there are numerous benefits possible through hybridization. Despite these benefits, there are numerous technical challenges with the hybridization of military vehicles to include vehicle safety. The analysis concludes with a series of technical gaps associated with the implementation of hybrid combat vehicles, including battery weight, battery volatility, engine power density.