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WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army and General Motors debuted a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle this week during the annual Association of the United States Army symposium. The ZH2 vehicle was co-developed by GM and the Army's Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center, the service said in a statement.
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The vehicle offers several advantages that the Army says could one day save lives on the battlefield.
Having a vehicle run on hydrogen fuel instead of diesel could reduce logistics needs, while running on electric power also offers a quieter vehicle.
The alternate energy source also means a much-reduced thermal signature, offering additional stealth for soldiers.
Finally, the vehicle demonstrates that a vehicle of this type could be built rapidly using mostly off-the-shelf parts.
The vehicle is based on the Chevrolet Colorado platform and went from concept to delivery in a year.
After the vehicle is delivered to the service in April, user evaluations will take place with soldiers at several Army bases over the course of the following year.
User evaluations will include subjective soldier feedback and objective feedback in order to get a full data set.
Department of energy tacticians and logisticians will help conceptualize a plan for supporting hydrogen supply in the field.
