Army looks to fuel cells for tanks

WASHINGTON D.C. - The U.S. Army is looking into fuel cell technology to boost electrical power in its M1 Abrams battle tanks, the service said.

In an article on its Web site, the Army said more electrical power on board would allow more computing, battle command technologies, sensors and other equipment.

"Currently it fuel cell technology is only being tested in a lab but it is being designed for the Abrams," said Steven Eick, a chemical engineer at the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center.

"Our goal is to generate more on board power to help support radios and other equipment."

Eick said Army engineers are also experimenting with fuel cell technology for non-combat vehicles.

The technology would be for an auxiliary power unit that converts JP8 diesel fuel into hydrogen and then generates electricity through a fuel cell.

Eick said use of fuel cells involves a chemical in which electrical current is generated by the breakdown of a hydrogen atom.

Related News

solar

America Going Electric: Dollars And Sense

SAN FRANCISCO - $370 billion: That’s the investment Edison International CEO Pedro Pizarro says is needed for California’s power grid to meet the state’s “net zero” goal for CO2 emissions by 2045.

Getting there will require replacing fossil fuels with electricity in transportation, HVAC systems for buildings and industrial processes. Combined with population growth and data demand potentially augmented by artificial intelligence, that adds up to an 82 percent increase electricity demand over 22 years, or 3 percent annually.

California’s plans also call for phasing out fossil fuel generation in the state. And presumably, its last nuclear plant—PG&E Corp’s (PCG) Diablo Canyon—will…

READ MORE

How Electricity Gets Priced in Europe and How That May Change

READ MORE

aps logo

APS asks customers to conserve energy after recent blackouts in California

READ MORE

electric cement

Electrifying: New cement makes concrete generate electricity

READ MORE

map of power grid

Military Is Ramping Up Preparation For Major U.S. Power Grid Hack

READ MORE