U.S. United States American Army displays hybrid combat vehicles CERV FTTS Chicago Auto Show 1302111

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Defense News - United States
 

Saturday , February 12, 2011, 00:42 PM

 
U.S. Army displays hybrid combat vehicles CERV and FTTS at Chicago Auto Show.
 
 
Two hybrid-powered combat vehicles CERV and FTTS that offer both fuel economy and stealth are on display at the U.S. Army booth at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show, which opened its 10-day run Friday February 11, 2011.
     
     

The Quantum Technologies Clandestine Extended Range Vehicle, CERV, and the Future Tactical Truck System, FTTS, represent the Army's next generation joint light tactical vehicles and high performance light duty off-road hybrid trucks.

Capable of carrying three soldiers with gear, the CERV will be used for special operations-type missions requiring stealth, reconnaissance, surveillance, targeting, search and rescue, and field rescues.

With a second generation advanced all-wheel-drive diesel hybrid electric power-train, designers say the CERV reduces fuel consumption by 25 percent, thus reducing the number of resupply vehicles needed during military operations.

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc., a publicly traded company based in Irvine, California, said Wednesday that the CERV's Q-Force hybrid drive system has been optimized for use with an efficient diesel (JP8) engine.

     
     
The hybrid FTTS Future Tactical Truck System was designed to replace the existing wheeled vehicle fleet that proved unable to keep up with current combat operational tempo due to its cumbersome logistical footprint, poor deployability in C-130 aircraft and poor fuel economy, the Army said in a statement Thursday.

Foremost in the design of the FTTS was fuel efficiency, since experts determined that 70 percent of battlefield logistics involves providing fuel.