The US Army is taking a step forward to reduce carbon emissions with the construction of a next-generation tank of General Dynamics' new hybrid power plant called AbramsX, according to Interesting Engineering.
The company said that the new power plant will deliver the same tactical range but will only use 50 percent less fuel. Early this year, the US Army announced their plans to reduce carbon emissions by as much as 50 percent in the next ten years.
Part of the plan involves switching to Electric Vehicles (EVs) for non-tactical operations. There is also the possibility of tactical vehicles switching to electric propulsion, even only partially, thanks to the advancements in technology today.
Abrams X
The AbramsX is equipped with a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system expected to deliver significant fuel savings by halving fuel consumption. It will also add a silent watch capability to the tanks and the option to move silently at low speeds. The new feature may also be used by the crew to gain an advantage over opponents.
The Drive reports that the most advanced of the Abrams tanks, the M1A2 is currently in service that weighs over 73 tons. However, they are challenging to be carried on ships and planes. This is why there is a need to reduce their weight via new Maneuver Support Vessels.
Another approach is to reduce the size of the crew on the AbramsX, but General Dynamics hasn't revealed any specifics yet about how they plan to do this. It's likely that the AbramsX will use an automated loader instead of deploying a crew member for the task.
Furthermore, the renderings provided by the company show a range of cameras around the hull that may deliver 360-degree situation awareness to the crew while inside. They could also use Augmented Reality (AR) and send the information from the cameras directly to the helmet visor.
It's also important to note that the hybrid power plant will not only be limited to the AbramsX. The plant will also feature on the Stryker in the near future that will come equipped with a microwave weapon.
StrykerX is an advanced technology demonstrator with a hybrid-diesel electric power pack and other features.
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A Growing Interest in Hybrid Conventional-Electric Propulsion Systems
The US Army has long been interested in hybrid conventional-electric propulsion systems for vehicles and tanks to help resolve logistics issues and reduce operating costs. And with the AbramsX, it may be a step forward in this direction.
More details about the AbramsX are expected to come next week during the AUSA convention.
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Written by April Fowell
