The military gains a high efficiency option.
Sean Welch -
CleanMPG - October 26, 2009
Not all hybrids are destined for consumer hands or OTR firms.
Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) announced today its Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) A3 equipped with ProPulse® diesel electric hybrid system is on display October 27 - 29 at CALSTART’s Hybrid Truck Users Forum (HTUF) in Atlanta. Attendees will be offered rides in the Oshkosh vehicle on Oct. 29 at Turner Field. The Oshkosh ProPulse vehicle provides a substantial fuel economy improvement for the application of a hybrid drivetrain in a military vehicle.
The HEMTT A3 is equipped with the Oshkosh proprietary ProPulse diesel electric hybrid system, a technology currently under various stages of development across several commercial and military Oshkosh vehicle platforms.
"We focused our efforts on optimizing the vehicle design and engine control strategy to maximize fuel economy, and those efforts have paid off significantly,” said Gary Schmiedel, Oshkosh Corporation vice president of Advanced Product Engineering. "We’re sharing the research results for the first time this week because the Hybrid Truck Users Forum brings together the best in industry technology with the U.S. Army. At Oshkosh Corporation, we take a similar approach towards excellence by applying leading technologies with a strong customer focus in an effort to better serve our military customers.”
Earlier this month, the Oshkosh HEMTT A3 outperformed a similar but conventional drive vehicle in multiple scenarios, including a range of steady speeds and aggressive acceleration starts and stops. The HEMTT A3 demonstrated a 24 percent improvement in fuel economy at 60 mph cruising speed and a 33 percent improvement in a start-and-stop-cycle.
In addition to the benefits of increased fuel economy, the Oshkosh HEMTT A3 provides a better crew environment because noise and vibration are reduced. Also, the simplified drivetrain and the resultant flexibility of equipment positioning, allow for increased vehicle capabilities and reduced maintenance requirements. The HEMTT A3 is equipped with a load handling system which can off-load a C-130 aircraft, has a variable height independent suspension and lower center of gravity for increased maneuverability and handling. The HEMTT A3 can export up to 100 kW of clean, military-grade electrical power making the A3 ideally suited to support initial deployment of troops, bring electrical power to remote areas, as well as support recovery missions in the event of a natural disaster.
"We are proud of the initiative and investments member companies like Oshkosh are making to develop new, efficient and clean technologies for heavy-duty and military trucks,” said Bill Van Amburg, senior vice president CALSTART. "Together we will help improve our national security by lessening our dependence on fossil fuels.”
The Oshkosh ProPulse technology can be integrated into any new vehicle design, like the HEMTT A3. Additionally upgrade kits are available for existing vehicles, such as the Oshkosh Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) with OBVP to provide on-board vehicle power (OBVP). The technology also has been integrated on an Oshkosh commercial chassis in a refuse hauling application as part of the Advanced Heavy Hybrid Propulsion System Project sponsored by the Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
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