Hybrid Trucks in the Military

The United States Army is in the process of introducing hybrid diesel vehicles into its military fleet. One such vehicle, designed by General Motors especially for the army and revealed in 2006, is a diesel-electric hybrid pickup truck with a body style based on GM's Chevy Silverado. This hybrid military truck, belonging to the class of what the army considers to be “light tactical vehicles,” has a 6.6-liter V-8 engine with 210 horsepower and 545 pounds-foot of torque. This diesel engine is combined with a hybrid electric system that is estimated to reduce fuel consumption by anywhere from 25 – 40 percent, depending on terrain. In addition, the vehicle is equipped with a fuel cell auxiliary power unit—a component that will no doubt prove to be extremely useful to our armed forces in the field.

The army uses portable electronic equipment extensively for tasks such as communications and surveillance, and these electronics require vast amounts of power—power that it is not always practical to supply. In the past, providing the necessary power for troop operations meant hauling a large, clunky generator into the field by a separate vehicle. These generators were cumbersome and inefficient, and the noise they made during their operation was often a security concern.

The Fuel Cell Auxiliary Power Unit

The fuel cell auxiliary power unit on the new hybrid military trucks is a quiet, mobile alternative to the loud, stationary generators that have been used by the army in the past. In the field of battle, the ability to operate with stealth is obviously of extreme importance, and these quieter generators provide a clear advantage. They also give off much less heat than conventional generators, and so are less likely to trigger enemy heat sensors.

In the auxiliary power unit, a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser uses electricity provided by the hybrid truck's diesel engine to break down water into its constituent molecules of hydrogen and oxygen while the vehicle is in motion. Later, when the engine is off, the stored hydrogen is combined with oxygen from the air, producing usable electricity, as well as water that is stored to be used for the next cycle. Thus, energy that would simply have been lost as heat while the vehicle was in motion can be used to provide power for military operations. These fuel cell generators provide the same amount of power as conventional generators, and can be operated 6 to 10 times longer.

This GM hybrid military truck could very well become the model for the new fleet of 30,000 light tactical vehicles that the Army intends to employ by the end of the decade. The Marines has also expressed interest in hybrid trucks, having just signed a contract with a Milwaukee based company to produce a prototype for a hybrid heavy cargo hauling vehicle.

The Army's fleet of trucks, numbering nearly 250,000, is one of the largest in the nation. These vehicles cost literally billions of dollars per year to fuel, with some of the heavy combat vehicles blazing through gas at a mind boggling rate of less than one mile to the gallon. In today's world, with gas prices soaring to over 3 dollars per gallon and climbing, this cannot be view by the rational mind as anything short of wasteful. If a significant percentage of those vehicles were hybrids, the resulting savings in the amount of taxpayer's dollars spent on fuel would add up to a staggering amount over time. This, combined with the obvious tactical advantages and added security that the vehicles offer our troops, make hybrid military trucks an innovation that every American should welcome and support.

Mud Trucks

Mud trucks are used for mud racing, also called as mud bogging. Different types of trucks are available in the market, but some trucks are exclusively designed for special purposes. Mud trucks are hefty trucks having bigger wheels than those of regular trucks. These wheels may have extra ridges for a firm grip on muddy surfaces. There are other types of trucks such as monster trucks, 4X4 trucks, and lifted trucks, but mud trucks stand apart from others because of their special characteristics. Maneuvering a mud truck is not easy and requires special training for mud truck racing.

Humans have been fascinated by almost all types of races, games, and other recreational sports, for years. In olden times, rich and mighty monarchs used to encourage activities such as horseracing, camel racing, bull fighting, and many other leisure pursuits. Then came the era of industrial revolution in Europe and on the North American continent. Traditional vehicles of transport became obsolete and modern cars, trucks, and other vehicles took their place. Public and goods transportation dramatically improved, human life gradually became easy, and humans could save their time and money. All these things can be attributed to the development and popularity of racing, in one or the other way.

Internet is a suitable option for enthusiasts to search for mud trucks. Various websites display high quality pictures, videos, and statistics related to truck racing. A patron can shop online, search by truck categories, get expert advice, understand technical aspects, and compare prices. Some examples of names of racing trucks are Executioner, Samson, Carolina Crusher, Predator, Snake Bite, and Bigfoot.

Mud trucks and other racing trucks generally have very attractive looks. They are usually painted in bright colors with different color combinations, and have interesting features, with state-of-the-art technology. A mud truck can be driven by one or two drivers. The driver's safety is a basic concern for mud truck manufacturers, because in mud truck racing, a truck may lose its grip on the ground and be toppled.

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Big Wheels Rolling... Advantages of Buying a Diesel Truck

If you are thinking about purchasing a new or used pickup truck with a diesel power plant then there are some things you need to be aware of. The advantages of the diesel engine are numerous. It burns considerably less fuel than a gasoline engine doing the same work. It has no ignition system to attend to. It can deliver much more of its rated horsepower on a continuous basis than can a gasoline engine. It's fuel economy is greater than gas powered trucks of the same size and make. In fact some Dodge truck owners with the Cummins diesel are reporting 22 - plus mpg highway. The same trucks with gasoline engines are turning in around 14 - 16 mpg highway. With the cost of gasoline and diesel almost the same you cannot underestimate this advantage.

Planning to haul a trailer or a boat? This is here a diesel engine really comes into its own. The typical Ford F250 / Chevy 2500 three-quarter ton trucks with diesel power plants can pull four tons with ease, yet fuel economy barely suffers. The same trucks with gasoline engines experience fuel economy dropping by half or worse. Also if you plan to do alot of hauling keep in mind a diesel holds up better than a gas motor. In fact a gasoline engine's life span decreases exponentially while pulling heavy loads for extended periods of time while a diesel is hardly affected.

Todays diesel also enjoy much improved performance in the area of driveability. No more do you step on the accelerator an wait for the engine to wind up. Todays PowerStrokes, Duramax and Cummins diesels have plenty of get up and go right off the line. Merging with traffic is no longer the white knuckle experience it used to be.

Some disadvantages to diesel engines are that they're very heavy for the horsepower they produce, and their initial cost is much higher than a comparable gasoline engine. Repairs cost more, but diesel generally require fewer repairs than gasoline engines. Where you purchase the truck has some bearing too. Diesel powered pickup trucks bought in Florida and other parts of the south for example generally hold up better than those purchased in the harsher northern climates.

As always we recommend that whatever type of engine you choose to operate, always follow the manufacturer's recommendations and procedures, as those folks know their product better than anyone else does.

C. Lunsford is a successful web developer and owns FloridaPreownedTrucks.com He provides tips and advice on Used diesel pickup trucks in South Florida.

Big Trucks

Big trucks are the heaviest trucks allowed on roads, and are generally used for long-distance journeys. A truck is a motor vehicle for transporting goods. The word "truck" comes from the Greek "trochos" that means a "wheel."

Road damage increases very quickly with axle weight or truck weight divided by the number of axles. In many countries with good quality roads, a 6-axle truck is permitted to have a maximum weight of 50,000 kg.

Big trucks are a major source of smog (smoke + fog), of poisonous chemical contamination, and of fine particle soot. The federal government rates any automobile above 8500 pounds as a "heavy-duty" truck, and that includes large pickup trucks and many other types. Big trucks are legally permitted to emit as much pollution as a dozen of cars, but in reality, many big trucks produce as much pollution as 150 cars.

Urban areas suffer the most because of big trucks and buses. In case of an accident, big trucks, because of their size, can cause the worst damage to occupants in a car. Hence, it is natural that many drivers are frightened when they must share a road with big trucks. According to AAA (American Automobile Association), people in passenger cars comprise 98% of deaths in deadly two-vehicle crashes involving a car and a truck weighing over 10,000 pounds. Big trucks produce air turbulence that can suck another vehicle towards them or push it out. This means that a vehicle needs to have sufficiently large space alongside between a truck and itself.

In spite of all these issues, it is important to note that truck drivers are trained. Statistically their safety record is satisfactory and is getting better. According to the Ontario Trucking Association website, truck drivers of commercial trucks are the safest drivers and motor vehicles on roads. Actually, trucks are involved in 20% fewer accidents at present than they were 10 years ago.