U.S. Army Ground Vehicle Research Lab Making October Energy Splash in, Around Washington, D.C.
Just north of Detroit, 1,500 researchers, scientists and engineers at the U.S. Army’s Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) work every day to protect our Nation’s Soldiers and Marines while addressing the Nation’s most urgent energy efficiency and security issues. During the next two weeks, a TARDEC contingent will travel to Washington, D.C., Baltimore and the Pentagon to detail TARDEC efforts in increasing ground vehicle power, display cutting-edge concept vehicles, and reinforce the role the Army’s research and development unit plays as a national asset.
“The timing of energy events in the Washington, D.C., area is serendipitous for the Army’s research, development and engineering command,” explained Dr. Grace M. Bochenek, TARDEC director. “The Army has a solid, substantial message – and tangible proof of success – regarding the future of power and energy. With October being Energy Awareness Month, we have an unprecedented opportunity to tell that story.”
Here is a breakdown of TARDEC’s October energy presence:
+ Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting & Exposition – Oct. 10 – 12, Washington, D.C. – Since 1950, the AUSA has worked to support all aspects of national security while advancing the interests of the U.S. Army and the men and women who serve. At this year’s meeting, the Fuel Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator (FED) program vehicle will be part of the Army Power and Energy display. The FED Alpha (pictured left) – a concept vehicle – has all the capability of the currently-fielded M1114 with modifications that can improve fuel economy by up to 70 percent. FED Alpha will be located in Hall C, booth 4224. Additionally, Dr. Bochenek is participating in a panel discussion on the morning of Oct. 11 facilitated by the Honorable Katherine Hammack, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations, Energy & Environment), Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army. For more on the AUSA event, visit http://www.ausa.org.
+ Hybrid, Electric, and High Efficiency Truck Users Forum (HTUF) 2011 National Conference and Exhibition – Oct. 10-13, Baltimore – HTUF leads the nation in driving the production and use of medium- and heavy-duty hybrid, electric and high-efficiency trucks and buses. The Honorable Sharon E. Burke, Assistant Secretary of Defense of Operational Energy Plans and Programs, will join TARDEC’s Paul F. Skalny at the 11th annual event to discuss the critical economic and national security benefits of fuel-efficient fleets for commercial and military use. At TARDEC, Skalny is the Acting Executive Director of Product Development and Director of TARDEC’s National Automotive Center. TARDEC’s display at HTUF will feature a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with enhanced vehicle-to-grid capability. For more on HTUF and the world’s largest parade of hybrid trucks, visit http://www.htuf2011.org
+ Department of Defense (DOD) Pentagon Energy Security Event – Oct. 17-21, Arlington County, Va. – For the second consecutive year, the Pentagon is hosting an event to promote energy-security initiatives across the DOD and empower its work force with knowledge about energy-related national security issues. TARDEC is participating with a wide array of initiatives. In addition to FED Alpha, TARDEC will detail energy security programs taking place with partners in Hawaii and a new laboratory complex that opens next year in Michigan.
In 2012, the DOD will open the new, 30,000-square-foot Ground Systems Power and Energy Lab (GSPEL) at the U.S. Army Detroit Arsenal. GSPEL (rendered below) is an eight-labs-in-one, state-of-the-art research and development facility. GSPEL will serve as the cornerstone for the Army’s next generation of power and energy initiatives providing the Army with the cutting-edge laboratory space and equipment necessary to conduct research, development, modeling, simulation and testing on military and commercial ground vehicle of all sizes and purposes from subsystem components to entire systems-of-systems.
A presidential proclamation in 1991 made October Energy Awareness Month.
TARDEC representatives have media availability at each event.
ABOUT TARDEC
Headquartered at the U.S. Army Detroit Arsenal in Warren, MI, TARDEC is the Nation’s laboratory for advanced military automotive technology and serves as the Ground Systems Integrator for all Department of Defense (DOD) manned and unmanned ground vehicle systems. With roots dating back to the World War II era, TARDEC is a full life-cycle, systems engineering support provider-of-first-choice for all DOD ground combat and combat support weapons, equipment and vehicle systems. TARDEC develops and integrates the right technology solutions to improve Current Force effectiveness and provides superior capabilities for Future Force integration. TARDEC’s technical, scientific and engineering staff lead cutting-edge research and development in Ground Systems Survivability; Power and Mobility; Ground Vehicle Robotics; Force Projection; and Vehicle Electronics and Architecture. TARDEC is a major research, development and engineering center for Research, Development and Engineering Command and an enterprise partner in the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command.