DETROIT ARSENAL, MICHIGAN—The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command’s center for ground vehicle systems hosted a first-ever forum on vehicle electrification June 6, inviting industry, academia, and government experts together to develop a vision for this critical technology area.
The Army’s Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) leads the Department of Defense efforts for ground vehicle innovation, including those vehicles’ electrical systems.
As new capabilities for Army ground vehicles come to fruition, the power demands on these vehicles’ electrical systems outpace the ability of those systems to produce it. Newer innovations in automation, weaponry, protection and sensing require versatile vehicle electrification systems to support them.
The one-day event kicked off with a keynote from TARDEC Director Paul Rogers. Also highlighting the agenda were panel presentations by TARDEC technology experts and Industry insiders from automotive OEMs and Tier-I suppliers.
Break-out sessions featured open architecture, automotive cybersecurity, and electric charging efforts, all capped off by a demonstration of TARDEC’s silicon carbide technology applications.
Organizers are anticipating a follow-up forum, however no date has yet been set for its occurrence.