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Ricardo
today announced that it has completed the build of the FED ALPHA vehicle
as part of the Fuel Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator (FED)
programme for the U.S. Army’s Tank Automotive Research, Development and
Engineering Center (TARDEC) – the company has been awarded a contract
for the testing phase, which is currently underway
“We are extremely pleased to be able to
continue supporting TARDEC in its objective to increase the fuel
efficiency of the U.S. Army’s vehicle fleet,” said Robert Ellis,
director for military vehicle programmes for Ricardo’s US subsidiary,
Ricardo Inc. “The FED programme represents an ideal application of
Ricardo’s expertise in armoured vehicle design and fuel efficiency
improvements.” |
The goal of the FED programme, launched
in late 2008, is to improve military vehicle technology, reduce fuel
consumption on the battlefield and reduce the nation’s dependence on
oil. Ricardo has applied its expertise in the design, development and
manufacturing of special vehicles, and advanced automotive technology to
create a demonstration vehicle that maximizes fuel economy while
maintaining the capability and performance of light tactical wheeled
vehicles.
The FED ALPHA includes numerous
fuel-saving features, including:
- A Cummins I4 engine that Ricardo
calibrated specifically for tactical vehicle fuel efficiency in
Ricardo’s Detroit Technology Campus engine test facilities
- Goodyear Fuel Max low rolling
resistance tyres specifically designed for the FED ALPHA
- A high efficiency 28-volt
permanent magnet integrated starter-generator from Kollmorgen that
enables electric accessories and 20 kW of power for on-board
equipment
- An Alcoa Defense lightweight
aluminium structure, armouring, and underbody blast shield which
support and protect the vehicle while reducing weight
- An improved driveline that
utilizes a unique carrier and differential assembly from Ricardo and
AxleTech International, including non-geared hubs and REM Chemicals
Isotropic Superfinished gears to reduce friction and increase fuel
efficiency
- Accelerator feedback pedal and
fuel economy display to inform drivers how to operate the vehicle to
produce the best fuel economy
- A 6-speed automatic transmission
from Aisin
In early July 2011, the FED ALPHA was
on display for two days in the centre courtyard of the Pentagon. Since
that time, FED ALPHA has been successfully completing government testing
at the U.S. Army’s Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. One key
facility that is paramount to validating the fuel economy of the vehicle
is Aberdeen Test Center (ATC) Roadway Simulator. This facility is the
world’s largest automotive test simulator and designed to perform
vehicle dynamics, powertrain performance, shock and vibration testing in
a laboratory environment. This facility enables the FED ALPHA to be
tested in a highly controlled environment so that small changes in fuel
economy can be verified.
ATC will test the FED ALPHA over the
drive cycle that TARDEC and Ricardo developed during the first phase of
the programme. This unique cycle is comprised of various real world type
activities (convoy, urban assault, cross-country and extended idle) that
a typical military vehicle would encounter on a mission-to-mission
basis. The real world testing of the FED ALPHA will assist in
demonstrating and advancing the various technologies that could be
utilized to improve fuel efficiency for other U.S. Army vehicles.
“The FED ALPHA vehicle is the
culmination of Ricardo’s total vehicle system methodology,” said Wes
Scharmen, Ricardo’s chief programme engineer for FED. “Each technology
that made its way onto the vehicle was properly vetted to ensure that it
aided in achieving the program goals of making a fuel efficient and
creditable military vehicle.”
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