Electrify cars, self-propelled guns and tanks: the US army proposes to switch to electric traction

The US Army fleet is ready to go electric. If earlier the Pentagon limited itself to the implementation of programs for the electrification of rear transport, now we are talking about tactical equipment - the light reconnaissance vehicle eLRV.

The eLRV is supported by the new defense budget law for 2022, although no funds have been allocated for the program so far, according to Clean Technica. At the same time, its implementation is approved by a number of high-ranking American military personnel. The military department believes that the army is ready for such a transition, and they propose to do it.

As General Mark T. Simerli explained, the demand for energy from the troops is growing at a rapid pace. In the event of a shortage of it on the battlefield, the mission will face a fiasco:

Demand outstrips supply. The army must reverse this trend before our combat forces run out of strength and capability.

According to him, one of the ways to solve the problem is the transition of reconnaissance platoons from wheeled highly mobile vehicles (HMMWV) to eLRV:

The new vehicle will provide extended service life, quiet mobility and silent surveillance capabilities, allowing scouts to go longer and farther with less risk of detection.

As the general noted, along with this, work is underway to electrify the current HMMWV fleet. It is planned that after the purchase of new JLTV machines, the number of HMMWVs will decrease from 100 to 50 thousand. However, even in these values, the size of the fleet of this technology will remain impressive, which gives a lot of scope for its electrification. At the same time, the general advocates the transfer to electric traction of the main armory systems, including self-propelled howitzers (ACS) and Tanks... Low noise, economy and environmental friendliness are the three main principles that the American command proposes to adhere to in this regard. At the same time, not all experts consider it correct to transfer military equipment, especially self-propelled guns and tanks, to an electric "drive". It is noted that this can lead to a decrease in the time of using armored vehicles in one operation, which will affect its results.

Comments

[dimy44]

How are things going with the safety of modern AB? I saw how they ignite spontaneously, the sight is not very ...

[OgnennyiKotik]

Quote: dimy44

How are things going with the safety of modern AB?

It's okay with that. The experience of Russia, in particular Moscow, shows the high efficiency of transport with electric motors. This makes the military leadership think about using them in the army.
This solves a number of tasks:
1. Reducing the need for fuel and its type. Making multi-fuel charge generators is a simple task. The same biofuels can be produced at the bases.
2. Reduce the visibility of vehicles. Sound and IR range.
3. A large number of electricity consumers have appeared. Electronic warfare systems, radars, energy weapons are becoming the norm and soon it will be impossible to imagine military equipment without them.

Purely applied problems are being solved, nothing supernatural. Let me remind you that the first cars were electric, we are going back to basics.

[NKT]

Poor OVG service, will she now have to carry spare ABs and charge them somewhere?

[tihonmarine]

Quote: OgnennyiKotik

The experience of Russia, in particular Moscow, shows the high efficiency of transport with electric motors.

Aha, there is a battle, an "Akum" has sat in the tank, and where the charging is. So I would have leaked the kerosene from the sidekicks, or from the enemy. And so a kyrdyk to a tank, and not just one (this is not Moscow). Better to let the windmills and solar panels be installed (the world has gone crazy for a long time, so this is acceptable).

[OgnennyiKotik]

Naturally, heavy equipment (infantry fighting vehicles, tanks) will have hybrid multi-fuel engines. Purely electrical is relevant for light technology.

[Jcvai]

Ford recently launched electric trucks that can charge each other.
A tank column of vehicles connected with electric cables will look beautiful at parades.

[Genry]

Quote: OgnennyiKotik

It's okay with that. The experience of Russia, in particular Moscow, shows the high efficiency of transport with electric motors.

Experience has shown concretely that if electric vehicles appear en masse, then the total electricity production should be increased by 30%. This is only possible in a few decades. Demands and without transport are growing, especially for production. And the problem is also in its transmission, which is more complicated than generation.

For the military, it will be necessary to create electrically conductive troops, the complexity of which and the cost of materiel will several times exceed the pipeline ...

[wow]

It is not very difficult to drag a can of gasoline, roll up a barrel of diesel fuel ..., but how to "fit" an electric charger to a tank, for example, when there is shooting around, THIS is a VERY big question !!!

[Reader 2013]

nothing that the idiot mayor's electric buses are heated in winter with a diesel burner
and 10 times more expensive than the trolleybus that Mayor Down destroyed

[Anachoret]

And also add the autopilot from Ilona Ibragimovna there)))
It will burn well and crash wherever it hits))

[Mountain shooter]

Quote: dimy44

How are things going with the safety of modern AB? I saw how they ignite spontaneously, the sight is not very ...

What are you talking about? And to charge this zoo from what? A mobile nuclear power plant at each base? Here is a tempting goal!

[tihonmarine]

Quote: Mountain Shooter

What are you talking about? And to charge this zoo from what?

And for what to charge, in the first battle they will burn, or abandon (most likely).

[isv000]

Quote: Mountain Shooter

And to charge this zoo from what?

It is necessary at all levels to convince the adversary of the correctness of the decisions made, to complain that we are striving for the same, but so far we cannot ... Let them switch to electric, JPS and other goodies, and train ours to find the north along the anthill, create cars, that are being repaired with a sledgehammer and wire, keep a tarpaulin and footcloths in reserve ...

[astepanov]

If only this ... The specific energy consumption of diesel fuel is 3 kW / kg, the fuel tank is slightly less. The energy consumption of the best batteries is 0,2 kW / kg, taking into account the switching, converter, cooling and control systems - no more than 0,15 kW / kg, 20 times worse than that of solarium. So, in its purest form, military equipment on electric traction is nonsense. If we are talking about a hybrid, then there may be a point: we can recall the successful tests of the Krymsk hybrid armored personnel carrier with electrochemical capacitors. Another possible (so far in theory) option is the use of hydrogen or ethanol fuel cells. Alas, this is an extremely expensive technique, relatively low-power, complex in design, and requires pairing with a powerful buffer. What option are we talking about? As always, not a word about it. And this is the most interesting thing.

[Starover_Z]

Quote: astepanov

The energy consumption of the best batteries is 0,2 kW / kg, taking into account the switching, converter, cooling and control systems - no more than 0,15 kW / kg, 20 times worse than that of solarium. So, in its purest form, military equipment on electric traction is nonsense.

Nothing, let them switch to electric drive, if they are still going to fight with someone in Europe or Asia. Where will they then charge their military "gadgets"?

[Galleon]

Quote: astepanov

Another possible (so far in theory) option is the use of hydrogen or ethanol fuel cells.

It's good on ethanol. This lends interest to such an opponent. Prize factor, so to speak.
Your comment is very good, and I'm here with a banal joke. Last day of work this year, the mood is a little frivolous

[Popandos]

So, in its purest form, military equipment on electric traction is nonsense.

In addition to the weight of the batteries, a bunch of nuances must be taken into account, for example, a march, a throw at least 200 km. What to do with equipment that is discharged on the way? And if you need to go into battle?

[isv000]

Quote: Popandos

What to do with equipment that is discharged on the way? And if you need to go into battle?

They will send a parliamentarian with a request for a technical break ...

[tihonmarine]

Quote: astepanov

What option are we talking about? As always, not a word about it. And this is the most interesting thing.

As always, "Overton windows", as with green energy and LGBT.

[ycuce234-san]

"The specific energy consumption of diesel fuel is 3 kW / kg, the fuel tank is slightly less. The energy consumption of the best batteries is 0,2 kW / kg, taking into account commutation, converter, cooling and control system - no more than 0,15 kW / kg, in 20 times worse than that of solarium. "

It is desirable to correct these figures also for the efficiency of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor: 3 * 0,4 = 1.2. But the crux of the matter is that electric traction is an extremely high-tech branch of technology and electric traction is inevitable as another world revolution (technical). Therefore, to lag behind in it now means to lag behind forever and afterwards buy all military equipment from the Chinese military-industrial complex.
And its equipment will not be sold on the world arms market - it will also have outdated chemical engines. It's like tanks and trucks, steam-powered tractors are now buying. Until now, steam has been preserved only in the engines of large ships, but even there they are trying to isolate it within the engine room - and after all, once steam trucks and tractors and steam lines around the ship were the norm, like ship ferry mechanisms - in some places steam anchors are still used winches.

[Mountain shooter]

Quote: astepanov

no more than 0,15 kW / kg, 20 times worse

You are right, but you forgot about the efficiency of the internal combustion engine, it is not better than 40%, and taking into account the variable modes and the efficiency of the transmission, then 30 ... Electric is better, about 95, so it is clear that it is worse, but every 7.
Yes, and the energy consumption of the fuel is not in kW (power units) but in joules or kWh (the latter are not systemic, but it is convenient to compare)

[astepanov]

Quote: Mountain Shooter

but they forgot about the efficiency of the internal combustion engine, it is no better than 40%, and taking into account the variable modes and the HPC of the transmission - then 30 ...

I have not forgotten anything, 3 kW / kg is the specific energy of a solarium with an efficiency of conversion into mechanical energy on wheels of 30%. So the ratio remains 20. Do not believe it - count it yourself: the heat of combustion of diesel fuel (in joules / kg, not calories) is multiplied by efficiency = 0,3 and converted into kilowatt-hours.

[Mountain shooter]

Yes, and the energy consumption of the fuel is not in kW (power units) but in joules or kWh (the latter are not systemic, but it is convenient to compare)

What is this about? Energy (kWh) and power (kW) cannot be compared

[den3080]

It's time to switch to muscular (pedal) traction, and to drown exclusively with fart steam, and the Americans and their vassals will be ecological happiness, in all areas of human existence, including the military

[yuriy55]

Electrify cars, self-propelled guns and tanks: the US army proposes to switch to electric traction

Blimey! Really, they solved Tesla's riddle about electricity generated naturally?
Unlikely. This means another tale from the series about electromagnetic guns and lasers on airplanes.

[Jcvai]

Transfer everything to "finger" batteries, and the Energizer rabbit to the commander-in-chief!

Low-noise thanks to electric traction, 60-ton tracked tank is cool!

[vitvit123]

Energizer works only when the seed approaches the female (advertisement) ..

[Popandos]

At the same time, the general advocates the transfer to electric traction of the main weapon systems, including also self-propelled howitzers (ACS) and tanks.

Give him a prize, and appoint the most important one for the fastest transfer of all Abrams to electric traction.

[Vasyan1971]

Quote: Popandos

Give him a prize, and appoint the most important one for the fastest transfer of all Abrams to electric traction.

Damn! And in our city the trams were violated and the trolleybuses were not sentenced a little bit ... And here, there it is ...

[Uncle lee]

Quote: Popandos

transferring all Abrams to electric traction.

Hide the charging socket away!

[cniza]

As General Mark T. Simerli explained, the demand for energy from the troops is growing at a rapid pace. In the event of a shortage of it on the battlefield, the mission will face a fiasco:

A very deep thought ...

[rocket757]

Hi
Manufacturers of military equipment also want to be in trend!
In general, there is nothing unexpected ...
They will install hybrid installations ... maybe / probably not so practical, difficult, but such is the law of the market, whoever did not have time is late.

[cniza]

Good time!

Everyone wants more money and will master ...

[rocket757]

Until new, solo, efficient sources of energy, both generation and protection, are created, there may be more difficulties than advantages.
Alas, the fashion for green will push manufacturers to not the most effective technical solutions.
However, without this, nothing very new never appears.

[cniza]

Well, at the expense of green there are also many questions and how green it is ...

[rocket757]

Everything is clear there, everything is proved and explained to the layman ... and what is "not important", somewhere out there, far away, the layman does not need to know. Moreover, they will try to get money from the "pollutants" ... that's as usual.

[cniza]

Yes, where you can chop cabbage, they are the first ...

[rocket757]

So they are masters of chopping and where that cabbage is not enough to feed the mess ... a master.

[cniza]

They are masters at organizing such situations ...

[Vladimir 290]

Everything is correct. Green energy first of all. Not everyone is telling the truth, secrecy, about new sails for the silent sumvolt.
But seriously, it’s probably still too early to use electric technology in the army. There is still a lot to do for this.

[dimy44]

Green energy

They have green chtoli))). That only is the production of shale gas. Then they burn him at the power plant in order to charge that battery.

[Labrador]

it's probably too early in the army to use electric technology

Not early. Talking about a massive transition is inappropriate for the foreseeable future. But the use of light equipment on an electric motor in special units is very important.

[Vladimir 290]

I absolutely agree with you about light vehicles in small quantities, but the article talks about tanks and self-propelled guns.

[Evil troll]

- We want to transfer the tanks to electric traction, give us a hundred thousand million! These are the wars of the future!
- Here!
Six months later:
- It turns out that electric tanks are constantly faced with a lack of power ... But we have a solution - a super-technical portable generator based on an old tank diesel engine! We will install it on all tanks for a hundred thousand million!
- Here!

[tralflot1832]

The omnipotent Gretta has reached the inner sanctum of the American Army. How much will she be expelled from electric tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, etc., etc.?

[URAL72]

No, Gretta is very busy doing something else.

The Russian army has not yet returned to Siberia, which means that the light elves are in danger!

[Bad thing]

Where does he plan to recharge the tank during the war, and how long will it take? Here, with portable radio stations and night lights, the problem is almost insoluble, but he wanted a battery-powered tank.

[dimy44]

Let the pillars with wires lead through the desert, horns from the trolleybus to each abrams)

[Nexcom]

And for emergency recharging (if the electricity is cut off or the wires are cut off) - a dynamo with a pedal drive, the whole crew will turn quickly and quickly and in turn.

[Vasyan1971]

Quote: Bad

Where does he plan to recharge the tank during the war?

Pocket socket. Hope Greta can think of something.

Quote: Bad

he wanted a battery-powered tank.

I had one as a child.

[Pessimist22]

I fully support the general! That's right, the US military must use green technology.

[moscowp]

I want to laugh, of course. But then I remember how we laughed at drones, precision munitions, energy transition, which even we have already recognized. And now think whether this is really stupidity or just a stage of denial on our part, because we cannot or do not understand something.

[Vasyan1971]

Quote: moscowp

the stage of denial on our part, because we cannot or do not understand something.

Most likely - we do not understand. "If the stars are lit, then somebody needs it." © At least for the next cut of the budget. Will you carry wind turbines with you? Diesel generators? And where will they collect so much material for batteries? Environmental friendliness is again questionable ...

[moscowp]

here is one of three things: waste money; will spend money, will not achieve the final result, but will create a good scientific and technological groundwork for the future; spend money and create some kind of revolutionary power sources that will turn everything upside down.
Everything is changing rapidly, even 15-20 years ago, the massive use of personal transport on an electric drive was not on the agenda, today it is an everyday reality - scooters, bicycles, mopeds, cars.

[Vasyan1971]

Quote: moscowp

here is one of three

The most important thing here is to spend money. The rest is how it goes ...

[avg avg]

Why and where did you laugh at drones and high-precision ammunition?

[moscowp]

Here on the site they massively laughed at drones, when we did not have them and at high-precision ammunition, with a general tone - a useless waste of money, if we need to fill up everything with unguided bombs and missiles, and shoot down all the drones. It seems to me that you have been on the site for a long time and should have caught all this.

[avg avg]

How long has the public opinion on VO been the opinion of the RF Ministry of Defense?

[moscowp]

Excuse me, are you talking to yourself? I wrote somewhere about the opinion of the RF Ministry of Defense?

[avg avg]

Why then write about the mass opinion of some marginal individuals about anything?
VO, let's say, is not the source to which you should pay attention to.
The level of authors at VO, and even more of commentators, is in the overwhelming majority of cases below the lower level.

[Vasyan1971]

Quote: moscowp

Here on the site in large quantities

Where? When? And even massively.

[Popandos]

And now think whether this is really stupidity or just a stage of denial on our part, because we cannot or do not understand something.

And you just estimate the weight of a tank with batteries and everything will immediately become clear. It is not without reason that the Americans stuck the GTE into the abrosh instead of the diesel.

[moscowp]

I don’t know, I can’t figure it out. I only know the following, electric buses, which now travel in large numbers around Moscow, have the same mass as similar diesel buses - 18 tons.

[Vasyan1971]

Quote: moscowp

I don’t know, I can’t figure it out.

A! This is a different matter, of course. Only, how can you not remember about the devil lurking in the little things and about the ravines that broke plans on paper ...
However, time will tell.

[Split]

And how do they plan to transfer Abrams Sep 3, which weighs 70 tons for electricity? The wheels they have taken away

[Flank]

Just like the Germans are ferdinand on electric traction. ICE + generator and two electric motors.

[Split]

The Ferdinads were generally a dead end ... their chassis was used as a tank destroyer after Hitler's preliminary order, which in fact were made on an initiative basis ... they were used illiterately ... half of the Ferdinands were blown up on mines near Kursk ... there was a powerful weapon ... which could be punching through our 34ki ... in the end, they took another tank ... which also made a rustle of course

[Sidor Amenpodestovich]

As General Mark T. Simerli explained, the demand for energy from the troops is growing at a rapid pace. In the event of a shortage of it on the battlefield, the mission will face a fiasco:

Demand outstrips supply. The army must reverse this trend before our combat forces run out of strength and capability.

Not understood. How will switching from internal combustion engines to electric motors help solve the problem of energy shortages?

[populist]

At the same time, the general advocates the transfer to electric traction of the main weapon systems, including also self-propelled howitzers (ACS) and tanks.

What a great suggestion.
Urgently all ugly land military equipment for electric traction. NATO too. And if you also try planes with missiles and ships. It would be truly green and environmentally friendly. And even scatter sockets around the globe, including the oceans.

[Bshkaus]

And if you also try planes with missiles and ships

Let me tell you a secret, there are already projects of solar-powered stratospheric electric planes that are preparing for flight.

[sharp-lad]

What is the payload in the form of bombs, missiles?

[HAM]

Actually, horse traction is more environmentally friendly ... healthier and quieter ... and Greta will be happy ...

[URAL72]

Actually, horse traction is more environmentally friendly ... healthier and quieter ... and Greta will be happy...

It is unlikely. The Greens claim that cows produce a lot of methane and thus contribute greatly to the greenhouse effect. Do horses not farts? No, there will never be peace for Greta.

[Vladimir 290]

She didn't seem to say anything about horses, probably they can be

[Vasyan1971]

At the same time, the general advocates the transfer to electric traction of the main weapon systems, including also self-propelled howitzers (ACS) and tanks.

So, if CHO, then the opponent's power plants are the primary goal.

[Pastor]

And how are they going to fight EMP?))) It's strange that there hasn't been such a comment yet!) And it's easier to burn out electronics ..., circus, and only

[Jcvai]

Well, it's simple: Abrams will move strictly along the rails inside the Faraday cages

[Emergency]

The general is a clear candidate for the Order of Friendship.

[Flank]

You don't understand anything. Logistics is simplified: there is no need to carry tons of fuel behind the columns of tanks, but simply to bring charged batteries from the rear and rearrange them into the tank. And take those who have sat down to the rear for recharging. Nobody will carry tanks for recharging. And mechvody with a bucket of solarium will be a thing of the past.

[Vladimir 290]

Well, yes, as I now remember from the alarm, the batteries for self-propelled guns and cars were dragged by the soldiers, that is still a joy, but what size should these be? Yes, and no one will let you run around the park with a bucket of solarium, at least in the "past"

[Flank]

It was sarcasm, but I thought you would notice the absurdity of the logistics argument, because the fuel should only be transported there, and the batteries there and back. Diesel fuel is lighter than batteries, of course.

[Vladimir 290]

Thank you, at first I did not understand a little

[Bshkaus]

Ha ha! We can sleep well. Considering that the electric car in Russia is an exotic business and unprecedented by many, it will be difficult for electric tank wedges to break through from Smolensk to Moscow without a single charging station, and even with outlets of a capitalist standard, and if General Frost puts a regiment of Santa Claus on the defensive lines, then it is exactly the same will stand behind the checkpoint like Moscow electric buses in the very first winter at -25 frost.
In the history of the Russian Federation, the vaunted cavalry of Budyonny has already beaten the mechanized German regiments on their own territory, and the imperial sailboats "drowned" the British steamship fleet ...
So I don’t understand the mock comments on this topic. The world is rapidly changing, and if someone is not ready for change, then this is already the problem of his lungs, breathing dust on the sidelines of technological progress

[Bad thing]

And if our marginals for non-ferrous metals catch up, then we can score on the organization of the partisan movement.

[moscowp]

I will upset you, charging stations are now actively being built and not only in Moscow (
There will be where to recharge the enemy tank!

[Skipper]

Europeans have already tried to switch to green energy. We all see the results. Good luck to the amers.

[pytar]

The transition to electric traction is inevitable. Recently, there was an article about mobile nuclear reactors being developed for the US Army. They must provide electricity to armored and other equipment to units.

[Aleksandr97]

The motor-generator - traction motors, was already on the Elephant self-propelled guns and Panzerkampfwagen VIII “Maus”.

[Region39KGD]

In 1859, telegraph wires throughout Europe and North America caught fire during a geomagnetic storm triggered by a Class X solar flare, and telegraph workers were electrocuted. The Northern Lights were observed in Cuba. When there will be a second similar event or even more powerful, God alone knows the consequences of this, taking into account the total electrical dependence of modern society.

[krops777]

Low noise, economy and environmental friendliness are the three main principles that the American command proposes to adhere to in this regard.

Especially environmental friendliness on the battlefield, when everyone will go crazy in atomic, chemical and bacteriological frenzy, but electric tanks are green energy .

[the47th]

An ingenious solution to tie military equipment to vulnerable power grids, as well as extend the refueling of cars from five minutes to several hours, and even the loss of energy from mobile power plants.

[Cheerock]

Low noise, economy and environmental friendliness are the three main principles that the American command proposes to adhere to in this regard.

The flag is in their hands))) But it’s better not to come to us on this one, especially in winter))))
https://motor.ru/news/evs-frost-test-21-12-2021.htm

[Sergey3]

Come on, come on, come on, I wonder where they will find a socket in the combat zone? Even if they do find it, will the enemy wait several hours for them to load their tank?

[Kerensky]

At the same time, the general advocates the transfer to electric traction of the main weapon systems, including also self-propelled howitzers (ACS) and tanks. Low noise, economy and environmental friendliness[i] [/ i] - the three basic principles that the American command proposes to adhere to in this regard

PEOPLE!! ENVIRONMENTAL TANK !!!
What are we talking about ?! A machine that alone is capable of smashing a small town should not harm nature!
Greta!!!

[Klingon]

They think one-sidedly. Somewhere in Iraq, this shit on an electric drive will ride but not in Russia. In freezing temperatures, the battery will drain very quickly. Let them try to ride at least at -20 C and then croak about electric traction.