Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc. announced that its Alternative Mobility Vehicle (AMV) and Mobile Hydrogen Infrastructure (MHI) programs are allocated to receive a total of $6.95 million in funding under the fiscal year 2006 Appropriations Bill for the Department of Defense (DoD).
These programs follow on Quantum's successes with the U.S. Army, wherein Quantum developed and demonstrated the "Aggressor AMV," a high performance light-duty off-road fuel cell hybrid vehicle, and the recently completed "HyHauler MHI", a transportable hydrogen refueling station designed for rapid refueling of military vehicles and silent watch power generators.
In line with Quantum's new initiatives in hybrid electric drive technology, the military AMV program will develop an advanced second generation (Aggressor II) high performance light-duty off-road hybrid electric vehicle platform incorporating special undisclosed modifications, based on the results of and feedback from the U.S. Army's testing and evaluation of the Aggressor.
The propulsion system for this next phase of AMV development will be an advanced internal combustion engine hybrid electric drive system, which would provide a cost-effective, near-term solution and provide common shared vehicle architecture with future fuel cell applications of the vehicle. Several pre-production prototypes will be developed and built for testing and evaluation by selected military commands to assess mission suitability, supportability, performance objectives, and guidance on final vehicle configuration.
The objective of the MHI program is to demonstrate the capability of Quantum's HyHauler transportable hydrogen refueling stations to meet emerging hydrogen fuel demand as hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are deployed throughout the military as part of the 21st Century Base initiative. This demonstration program is expected to include supporting the deployment of hydrogen internal combustion engine administrative vehicles as well as fuel cell vehicles.
"Quantum's military business and our strategic initiatives in hybrids continue to gain momentum. Our funding for Defense related programs will more than triple this year to almost $7 million, up from $2 million in 2005. Having been allocated $6.95 million for production intent military programs is a tremendous success for the company and a strong indicator of more to come. The high quality and performance of the advanced vehicles and refueling stations Quantum developed previously for the US Army and our capability for limited volume production of vehicles through our Tecstar business unit were instrumental in the significant increase of the 2006 Defense Appropriations Bill allocation for Quantum programs," said Alan Niedzwiecki, President and CEO of Quantum.
