Army efficiency lab complex opened in Warren, Michigan

Published 12 April 2012

By Huw Evans

On the same day that the an explosion at GM has occurred alternative energy Center, not far away, which opened U.S. Army tank automotive research, development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) officially new ground power systems and energy laboratory complex in Warren, Michigan

To develop vehicles more fuel-efficient, with increasing pressure on the U.S. military, priority for the new laboratory complex Powertrain is to develop technologies that are less dependent on fossil fuels, including hybrid systems.

Currently, some military vehicles, like for example the tank of M1 Abrams, battle a 1,500 horsepower turbine engine used, to achieve a single mile per gallon.

We all understand why, under normal circumstances, fuel consumption is important, but it becomes more critical from a tactical and logistical point of view, if the military into enemy zones is active. Costs for the security and transport was fuel to remote areas of Afghanistan, such as estimated to be somewhere around a hundred are the $4 per gallon Americans bucking against back to home.

It has come under criticism in recent years for the amount of oil consumed the Army (in 2008, the military used journal 1.5 percent of all black gold consumed by the United States according to Wall Street), that steps taken to develop fuel-saving vehicles will be as progress seen.

The new army lab complex includes eight individual State-of-the art-lab, the any type of wheeled vehicle - enable manned or unmanned aerial vehicles - almost any type of simulated condition, including temperatures of - 60 degree, 160 degrees Celsius and winds of up to 60 miles per hour to be tested.

Once fully operational is the new laboratories employ about 150 people (mainly engineers, researchers and scientists) and with impending defence cuts in the State of Michigan, the time is favourable.

In other words, according to TARDEC spokesman John Wray, incremental setting for application testing; Which means that all available positions are not in short order will be filled. He also said that in addition to the development of more fuel the new laboratory complex will save saving tanks, personnel carriers and other military vehicles, life on the battlefield.

"For every one percent is improvements in fuel efficiency, which eliminates the need for the 6.444 soldier travel," he said.

Apropos save, after the explosion on the campus GM Tech Center takes the military undoubtedly every precaution to make sure that something similar in a new laboratory happen not complex.

The Detroit News