Dominant Logistics
Hybrid HMMWV
One of the newer technologies that offers tremendous potential to the military is hybrid powertrains. For those not familiar with the technology, it uses a power generation system and battery packs to power a vehicle using electric motors. You can power the vehicle with the engine to generate maximum power or you can run off the batteries for a stealthier approach that saves fuel. And since the batteries are charged by the power system, its an autonomous vehicle and you can combine the running techniques to maximize fuel efficiency and range.
A good system is already available for use in the M113 that generates 500hp with respectable fuel efficiency. It really shouldn't be too difficult to modify this system to power a HMMWV, particularly the Heavy Hummer, which could use more power. Most designs in wheeled vehicles make the mistake of putting the motors out at the wheels. This complicates the design and results in higher costs because more motors are required and the motors take more of a beating as they bounce around with the wheels.
With as much power as the M113 system puts out, there's no reason we couldn't modify the system to power a HMMWV at the differentials, with one motor powering the standard front axle assembly and another powering the rear. The power generation unit would reside where the current engine sits and the batteries can go down the center tunnel where the transmission, transfercase, and driveshafts are located.
With this arrangement, you could power the vehicle off either the front motor, the rear motor, or both for maximum power. Each single motor puts out considerably more power than the current HMMWV engine so this arrangement should have excellent range overall and especially on battery-only power. We also gain the benefit of having the vehicle serve as a power generation unit.
Current divisions tow dozens of trailer-mounted power generation systems everywhere they go. Most of these units are to provide power for shelter-based systems like communication relay systems. By replacing the powertrains in these vehicles with the hybrid powertrain, we can eliminate many of these trailer-mounted generators. Some will need to be retained for back-up, but the vast majority can be eliminated.
This system would also be ideal for command vehicles with their vast quantities of radios and other communications gear. At a fixed location, the vehicle can power the command post but this approach would also allow for powering all systems while on the move.
Hybrid powertrains are not without their own problems. Batteries in general can be highly susceptible to weather conditions particularly if the vehicle isn't going to be operated regularly. Consequently, we need to limit our use of hybrid vehicles to those applications where the vehicles will be operated continually throughout the deployment. Not only is this better for the hybrid systems, but it should also reduce our fuel requirements for supporting operations as well. This approach will also result in fewer sorties being required to deploy a unit and it should lower operational costs too.