Army to develop fuel-efficient vehicles

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WASHINGTON, April 11 (UPI) -- A new U.S. Army lab will develop technology to make combat vehicles more energy-efficient, the White House announced Wednesday.

The U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center's Ground Systems Power and Energy Lab is a 30,000-square-foot facility in Warren, Mich.

The lab will be involved in testing advanced vehicle technology, including fuel cells, hybrid systems, battery technologies and alternative fuels.

In 2011, the Defense Department spent $19.4 billion on energy, with 79 percent allocated to fuel for ground vehicles, ships and aircraft, The Detroit News said.

In the new facility, vehicles can be tested in every conceivable condition from temperatures of 60 degrees below to 160 degrees above freezing and winds of up to 60 mph.