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2013-05-29 Home Front: Culture Wars

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Posted by Raj 2013-05-29 00:25|| || Front Page|| [11130 views ] Top

#1 The problem with hybrid engines is there is a lot more to go wrong.

The great advantage of the diesel engine is its inherent simplicity. There is not much that can break in a diesel engine.

A dumb idea.

Posted by phil_b 2013-05-29 01:11|| 2013-05-29 01:11|| Front Page Top

#2 You can't argue with religious fanatics.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2013-05-29 04:09|| 2013-05-29 04:09|| Front Page Top

#3 The thing is the US Army already tried Hybrid vehicles back in the 1970's IIRC. Diesel engine turning a generator, electric motors, and a lead acid battery back. The weight of the truck canceled out any fuel advantage. There are lighter batteries now but they are much more expensive and more dangerous when battle damaged and start burning. However don't be surprised it some buddy buddy company with Crony connections to the Obama administration gets a "Green" contract for them.

Posted by Shump Ebbinesing8470 2013-05-29 05:34|| 2013-05-29 05:34|| Front Page Top

#4 I wonder if the "hybrid" is actually a power storage system for a field-deployable energy weapon...

Posted by Rob Crawford 2013-05-29 09:34|| 2013-05-29 09:34|| Front Page Top

#5 Are they getting small enough to mount on something the size of a Bradley, Rob?

Posted by Mitch H. 2013-05-29 09:56|| http://blogfonte.blogspot.com/ 2013-05-29 09:56|| Front Page Top

#6 I would not ride that.

Posted by newc 2013-05-29 11:25|| 2013-05-29 11:25|| Front Page Top

Are they getting small enough to mount on something the size of a Bradley, Rob?

Getting close. The biggest question is the discharge rate of the batteries. If they're fast-discharge, then it's for a weapon platform.

Posted by Rob Crawford 2013-05-29 11:35|| 2013-05-29 11:35|| Front Page Top

#8 There are a few advantages for electric drive. It can apply more torque more quickly, is quieter, can be used for regenerative breaking, which improves fuel economy. Also, almost all training tasks can be done without cranking the engine reducing maintenance and O&S costs.

Now getting those advantages costs more money upfront through more complex design, more components, and more care in construction to separate the electric bits from the people inside.

It is not inherently dumb, but is instead a choice about operations and the intended use, and the GD option is pure diesel; so, we still have that choice available.

Now being 72 tons, that is pretty much dumb, no matter what you want to do with the thing.

Posted by rammer 2013-05-29 12:01|| 2013-05-29 12:01|| Front Page Top

#9 Totally ignoring the complexity of a hybrid power system, I would think just the extra weight of the batteries would kill the idea.

For an amusing and quasi-factual look at how the Bradley came to be the Bradley, check out the flick Pentagon Wars

Posted by SteveS 2013-05-29 12:02|| 2013-05-29 12:02|| Front Page Top

#10 Why not use an M113 frame for that purpose?

Posted by swksvolFF 2013-05-29 12:18|| 2013-05-29 12:18|| Front Page Top

#11 They're busy rebuilding the army to being theoretically less vulnerable to the last generation of IED's at the cost of realistically destroying its cross-country mobility against any sort of peer competitor.

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2013-05-29 12:28|| 2013-05-29 12:28|| Front Page Top

#12 Most of the time, the power in BAEs tank would come from diesel generators that would deliver electricity to the motor and to the batteries. When extra power is needed, such as when the tank is accelerating, the batteries would engage. According to BAE, the tank would use 10 to 20 percent less fuel than a vehicle of the same size with a conventional engine. Because of its sheer mass, it would still be inefficient relative to other kinds of vehicles. Despite its hybrid engine and 255-gallon gas tank, the tank would be able to go no more than 186 miles without refueling, according to the company.

It looks like the GCV is using the exact opposite philosophy as rammer suggests, which means it makes even less sense than it did before.

Al

Posted by Frozen Al 2013-05-29 12:42|| 2013-05-29 12:42|| Front Page Top

#13 As a retired army maintenance officer, I can say with some authority that this will be a truly epic disaster. We had enough problems with the brads' electrical systems as it was. IIRC, the #1 engine problem we had was the generator to charge batteries and run all the electrical stuff. (turret hydraulics (Yes, the turret hydraulic system is powered by an electric motor), radios, etc.)

I would like to know where the heck they plan on stuffing all those extra batteries. There was not much room left inside as it was.

Posted by Nguard 2013-05-29 12:50|| 2013-05-29 12:50|| Front Page Top

#14 I would like to know where the heck they plan on stuffing all those extra batteries. There was not much room left inside as it was.

Don't include a crew, just a computer to operate it?

Posted by Glenmore 2013-05-29 13:22|| 2013-05-29 13:22|| Front Page Top

#15 No crew required. Controlled from the WH via drone down-link. Can also use captured F-150 batteries, fuel, and oil filters.

Posted by Besoeker 2013-05-29 13:27|| 2013-05-29 13:27|| Front Page Top

#16 Another reason not to get a Hybrid - these things would consider them prey.

Posted by CrazyFool 2013-05-29 13:39|| 2013-05-29 13:39|| Front Page Top

#17 Have it deploy a squad of Johnny 5's?

Posted by swksvolFF 2013-05-29 14:34|| 2013-05-29 14:34|| Front Page Top

#18 This isn't new - had one of these when I was a kid.

Posted by Vinegar Lumplump7734 2013-05-29 14:38|| 2013-05-29 14:38|| Front Page Top

#19 I'm a retired armor and cavalry officer, and appreciate the sense of these comments about this as a foolish idea on so many levels. But you are missing the salient point, that trumps all the others. IN the pantheon of GREEN, worshipers always find hybrid worthy, since it helps protect the true home, Gaia, and none of these piddling reality questions matter. Our overlords lead by Champ know what is good for us, and the leadership in the five sided building is being culled of those that disagree at an alarming rate. Look back at what has been done to the force, and is being done to what was once our technological superiority before the Chicoms stole everything, and you see the path Champ has planned for the proletariat.

Posted by NoMoreBS 2013-05-29 14:40|| 2013-05-29 14:40|| Front Page Top

#20 The South Africans developed a large truck with a v-shaped bottom for defense against landmines, the bottom channeld the explosion away. The same concept adapted to a HUMVEE would be good for IEDs.

Make the thing desiel/biodesiel compatible so you can run off of any kind of vegetable oil in a pinch as well as make the greenies happy.

Its almost like they want to spend more per unit than they have to.

Posted by rjschwarz 2013-05-29 14:54|| 2013-05-29 14:54|| Front Page Top

#21 Oh, I thought this was about Bradley Manning being AC/DC. That would be surprising, since he's obviously not.

Posted by KBK 2013-05-29 20:12|| 2013-05-29 20:12|| Front Page Top

23:56 JosephMendiola
23:19 USN,Ret.
23:12 USN,Ret.
22:16 jefe101
20:36 Redneck Jim
20:12 KBK
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18:52 Barbara
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18:25 Pappy
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17:37 Shipman
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16:55 Thing From Snowy Mountain
16:47 irishrageboy
16:18 George Ebbairt3821
16:16 Thing From Snowy Mountain
16:14 rwv
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16:00 Pappy