In the future imagine a Special Operations Team driving an electric and hydrogen powered Light Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle (LTATV) over 400 miles without refueling. Think about the advantages of being able to export vehicle generated electricity to power communications gear, computers, drones and combat operations centers. Future vehicles that can deliver a three dimensional capability and solve multiple problems for the Soldier in the fight will be in high demand. Combining electricity with hydrogen to extend mission duration and reduce logistical requirements just makes sense. NASA uses hydrogen fuel to launch the space shuttles. Hydrogen is the simplest element. An atom of hydrogen consists of only one proton and one electron. It's also the most plentiful element in the universe. Despite its simplicity and abundance, hydrogen doesn't occur naturally as a gas on the Earth - it's always combined with other elements. Water, for example, is a combination of hydrogen and oxygen (H2O).

Develop a family of electric and hydrogen powered vehicles for the military

Hydrogen is also found in many organic compounds, notably the hydrocarbons that make up many of our fuels, such as gasoline, natural gas, methanol, and propane. Hydrogen can be separated from hydrocarbons through the application of heat - a process known as reforming. Currently, most hydrogen is made this way from natural gas. An electrical current can also be used to separate water into its components of oxygen and hydrogen. This process is known as electrolysis. Some algae and bacteria, using sunlight as their energy source, even give off hydrogen under certain conditions.

Hydrogen is high in energy, yet an engine that burns pure hydrogen produces almost no pollution. NASA has used liquid hydrogen since the 1970s to propel the space shuttle and other rockets into orbit. Hydrogen fuel cells power the shuttle's electrical systems, producing a clean byproduct - pure water, which the crew drinks and the military could as well!

Fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, heat, and water. Fuel cells are often compared to batteries. Both convert the energy produced by a chemical reaction into usable electric power. However, the fuel cell will produce electricity as long as fuel (hydrogen) is supplied, never losing its charge. Developing fuel cell technology for the military is going to improve efficiency and lethality in combat while paving the way for sustainable energy solutions.



