Army looks to fuel cells for tanks
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

Nova Scotia Power delays start of controversial new charge for solar customers
HALIFAX - Nova Scotia Power has pushed back by a year the start date of a proposed new charge for customers who generate electricity and sell it back to the grid, following days of concern from the solar industry and politicians worried that it will damage the sector.
The company applied to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (UARB) last week for various changes, including a "system access charge" of $8 per kilowatt monthly on net metered installations. The vast majority of the province's 4,100 net metering customers are residential customers with solar power, according to the application.
The proposed charge…