Ricardo cuts armoured car’s fuel bill

Technology also delivers better vehicle performance

Ricardo engineers have developed technology upgrades that could deliver dramatic fuel economy improvements to the US military.

A project to refit a standard US Army M1151 HMMWV armoured vehicle has resulted in a 72% improvement in fuel economy.

The two-year Fuel-Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator (FED) project used a supercharged Cummins I4 engine, low-rolling resistance Goodyear tyres, an Alcoa Defence aluminium structure and driveline improvements from Ricardo. The project was developed as a “clean sheet” with a Ricardo-led team that included personnel from the US Army. 

The FED’s performance was assessed using realistic duty cycles including highway, offroad and idle conditions. Wesley Scharmen, Ricardo’s chief engineer on the project, said: “We implemented a relatively conservative approach using near or in-market technology to reach our fuel economy objectives, and we have proven they are achievable. This kept costs down and increased the production feasibility of the end product.”

Ricardo said that the project had also delivered better vehicle performance. Acceleration had been significantly improved compared with the current vehicle, even when loaded to nearly seven tonnes.

Carl Johnson, from the US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center, said: “A 72% increase in fuel economy provides us with a significant competitive advantage in the field. That’s because fuel is the second most delivered commodity to ground troops, right behind water. Reducing fuel consumption, along with improving military vehicle technology and lowering the nation’s oil dependence, is the FED programme’s goal.” He said that the FED would offer a template for future defence vehicle development.