US army ups fuel-efficiency efforts

The US army is set to open a 30,000-square-foot facility that will build the next generation of army vehicles, with a big emphasis on fuel efficiency.

Federal and state officials are set to open the new building, which has been called the "greenest lab complex", indicates that the army may be looking into biofuel testing. The US army has been at the forefront of the biofuel industry so far, and may be taking this a step further with their new testing facility.

Making army vehicles more fuel efficient will be a key component of the lab. The army's Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering centre (TARDEC) has 1,500 scientists, researchers, engineers as well as about 150 people working in the labs.

John Wray, a spokesman for TARDEC, said improving fuel efficiency can save lives. He added that for every 1 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency, the need for 6,444 solider fuel trips is eliminated.

There are also huge cost incentives at stake, with the military spending $17.3 billion on oil last year, according to Bloombery News. The Wall Street Journal reported that in 2008 it consumed 1.5 per cent of all oil used by the United States, or 340,000 barrels a day.

Posted by Lauren Steadman