EnerDel to Develop Batteries for Series Hybrid XM1124 Humvee
05 November 2009
| Cutaway of the XM1124. Source: Brudnak et al. Click to enlarge. |
Automotive lithium-ion battery maker EnerDel, Inc. has received a $1.29 million contract to design and build high-performance lithium-ion battery systems for the hybrid version of the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV or Humvee), the XM1124 Humvee. The XM1124 is a series hybrid with a diesel genset and two traction motors, one for each axle.
EnerDel will spend the next 18 months collaborating with the US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) to produce four custom-built power systems that will be subjected to extreme performance simulations. TARDEC and its partners have evaluated a number of battery solutions over the past few years, including systems from Saft and A123Systems.
| XM1124 and HE-Drive Components. Source: Marcel, 2009. Click to enlarge. | XM1124 and HE-Drive Electronics. Source: Marcel, 2009. Click to enlarge. |
TARDEC will test two of EnerDel’s battery chemistries. In addition to its lithium-manganese spinel chemistry, best suited for extending electric vehicle range or electronic systems runtime, the program will also be testing EnerDel’s lithium-titanate system, an advanced chemistry developed in collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago, designed for extreme high-power hybrids that require hard acceleration and braking.
| TARDEC and DRS are exploring battery configuration flexibility for the XM1124, e.g., Pick-a-power and Payload capacity. Source: Marcel, 2009. Click to enlarge. |
While the XM1124 Humvee is already significantly more efficient than the conventional M1113 Humvee, boasting a higher top speed, faster acceleration, longer range and improved fuel economy, expectations are that the new, upgraded battery packs will increase the peak power capability of the current demonstration vehicles.
In addition, the battery technology will also include an all-electric silent watch capability which will power the electronics or traction motor without running the truck’s diesel generator, significantly reducing both the audible and thermal signatures of the vehicle, making it easier to escape detection by hostile parties.
An XM1124 Humvee could also function as a portable power plant to power a mobile command post or field hospital.
TARDEC, part of the US Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM), is headquartered at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Michigan. It is the nation’s laboratory for advanced military automotive technology. TARDEC develops and integrates technology solutions to improve the effectiveness of the current force and realize the superior capability of the future force. Its technical staff leads research in ground vehicle survivability, mobility, intelligent systems and maneuver support and sustainment.
Resources
“System Consideration When Integrating New Battery Technologies into the XM1124 Hybrid Electric HMMWV”, Dr. Michael J. Marcel, DRS Test and Energy Management, 2009 Joint Service Power Expo
XM1124 High Power Battery Pack Utilizing Nanophosphate Cells
Mark Brudnak, Mike Pozolo, Matthew McGough, Todd Mortsfield, Andrey Shvartsman, Richard Romano (2008)Motion Base Simulation of a Hybrid-Electric HMMWV for Fuel Economy Measurement (SAE 2008-01-0775)
This is a confirmed first step towards a practical PHEV vehicle for the Armed Forces.
Reducing (very expensive) fuel consumption while fighting in far away lands or during peace training between wars is of the utmost importance for any nation.
However, nobody is optimistic enough to believe that you can deveolp an adequate battery pack for $1.29 M. That's barely enough to write the offer papers.
Should that be $1.29 B?
Posted by: HarveyD | 05 November 2009 at 08:44 AM
When EEStor rolls out their revolutionary storage unit soon, there will be global shock & awe...just watch. Everyone will be retrofitting their BEVs PHEV's HEV's and any other EV with EEStor energy storage units.
Posted by: ejj | 05 November 2009 at 09:50 AM
Hope you are right ejj.
The gestation period has been rather long. Will the baby survive?
Posted by: HarveyD | 05 November 2009 at 10:12 AM
DOD readers already know this but problems with EVs on the battlefield center around vulnerability to HEMP and HPM attacks. Both battery and capacitor-type storage are susceptible to this form of attack for which there is little defense... for now.
http://www.fas.org/man/crs/RL32544.pdf
This is also a reason for Congress to mandate several municipal level demonstration projects for CHP Residential Power Units. Independent micro-energy resources are the most secure method of defense against large scale grid and power generation failures. In the event of massive utility generator failure, thousands of small NG-fueled RPUs could keep vital systems online while protecting residents from debilitating power loss.
We should know by now from history that centralized systems are prone to failure on the battlefield and in politics. Distributed, aka compartmentalized energy nodes are the least vulnerable systems.
Posted by: Reel$$ | 05 November 2009 at 10:48 AM
reel$$, you are so right. the internet swept the world because no centralized control.
btw, HEMP should not stop EV's from military development. The advantages are enough to outweigh a threat that is unlikely in third world.
Posted by: danm | 05 November 2009 at 11:07 AM
Most Humvees come with 6.2 or 6.5-liter V-8 gasoline engines - they are likely just as difficult to protect against EMP as a Diesel hybrid.
Posted by: ToppaTom | 05 November 2009 at 05:04 PM
ejj, HarveyD,
I've noted, respected, and pondered your comments for many years. Since ten tears of non-production and then Zenn closing their EV production per EEStor failure to again provide it's unit this fall - it's assumed they are a non-issue.
Do you know/can you prove otherwise?
Posted by: kelly | 05 November 2009 at 05:33 PM
Kelly - I don't know anything more than what's available on google news & google...and I haven't even read all the material available there. One argument would be there are so many smart minds in various places already working on electricity storage, so why hasn't someone come up with barium titanate storage already? On the other hand, why would ZENN radically change their business model if they weren't confident in EEStor? With ZENN a lot of jobs are at stake if the whole thing collapses (EEStor is a hoax). Personally, I believe EEStor will produce & meet expectations ....eventually.
Posted by: ejj | 05 November 2009 at 06:43 PM
Didn't GM sell Hummer to Chinese interests?
Maybe the US will be buying them back minus the *
These enerdell units seem ready to go the main points are the low internal resistance in conjunction with double the capacity.
Read up!
http://green.autoblog.com/2008/04/24/argonne-lab-tests-enerdel-equipped-plug-in-prius/
Not quite with it on how this is even different to eestor vaporware?
We are living in mysterious times.
Posted by: arnold | 06 November 2009 at 12:15 AM
Reel,
There is a defence mechanism against EMP, but it is very, very expensive: Put a gold Faraday cage around all the vulnerable systems.
It's what Eurocopter did for the Tiger helicopter.
Posted by: Simodul | 06 November 2009 at 12:58 AM
ESStor last promise is due this fall, i.e. in the next 45 days.....
Let's see what will come out by 21st Dec 2009.
It should be a working demonstrator unit, if not, well..... we may have to wait another 10 years.
Posted by: HarveyD | 06 November 2009 at 09:37 AM
arnold,
GM sold and marketed civilian H1. It also manufactured the H2 and H3. Military HMMWV are made by AM General.
Posted by: transport_eng | 06 November 2009 at 01:23 PM