Given the penchant of the American Army to enter conflict zones all over the world and their ability to feel threatened by provocateurs, the U.S. Army has long held on to its facility for developing enormous, conspicuous, heavy, fuel-inefficient and downright monolithic armoured cars. The most iconic of these is obviously the Humvee, the bastion of colossal vehicles. Whilst this was thereafter developed into the Hummer, which when suitably attired in bling, became the enamoured vehicle of choice for rap stars and other larger-than-life characters, nothing could detract from its appetite for fuel.
The cost of war has become even heavier however, and the fuel bill seems to be taking its toll on the USA’s level of national debt after all. The U.S. Army has now developed therefore a more fuel-efficient transporter in the form of the FED Bravo concept. In an attempt to become more environmentally-friendly, as well as save on running costs, an investment has been made to develop this new armoured ground car.
The prototype was unveiled recently at the home of American motor manufacturing in Detroit, Michigan. This week’s Automotive Engineers World Congress being hosted in the city saw the vehicle in all its glory. Given the publicity around this, the vehicle is certainly not going to be strong on the surprise element. However, it only takes one glimpse to understand that stealth mode was not a design specification for these engineers, nor were aesthetics.
The FED Bravo which stands for Fuel Efficient ground vehicle Demonstrator is a diesel hybrid. Based around a Ford 284 horsepower twin-turbodiesel 4.4 litre V8 engine it partners with an electric motor to power the front wheels. Obviously the FED Bravo makes up for its lack of looks with good levels of torque, power and traction. It was tested at temperatures from minus 60˚F to 160˚F and so its credentials for durability are impeccable.
Such testing took place at the Army’s Ground Systems Power and Energy Laboratory as the development of the FED Bravo was a collaboration between the U.S. Army’s Tank Automative Research, Development and Engineering Centre (TARDEC) and eighteen lucky students from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. The four years it took to develop the vehicle were financed by the USA’s Department of Defence.
The creation uses an electric motor to also help turn the rear wheels. Considering the vehicle weighs 16,760 lbs, this means that it can return 8.2mpg for an urban cycle, and 14.2 mpg on the motorway. The creativity deployed in the vehicle also allows it to travel 5 miles in pure EV mode. With Stop-Start technology and a twenty-four gallon fuel tank, the FED Bravo is almost twice as efficient as the Humvee. After more in-depth testing this year at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, it is not outside the bounds of reality that this car could replace the Humvee in its missions.
No amount of development however could see this sort of vehicle overtake our Armoured Range Rover. With finesse, refined comfort, and a superb approach to security, we prefer our less conspicuous approach to security. We still think our Range Rover’s ability to blend in to the surroundings offers a head-start to superior protection. What do you think?
