Canadian Firm Building All-Electric Vehicles for U.S. Army’s Microgrid Project

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You might want to think of them as rolling energy storage: Canadian EV systems integrator Rapid Electric Vehicles (REV) is building bi-directional charging Ancillary Power Vehicles (APVs) for the U.S. Army as part of a Department of Defense strategy to cut dependence on fossil fuels and improve power reliability and security. The APVs will be part of the Army's Tank Automotive Research Development Engineering Center

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(TARDEC) microgrid program. REV has the contract to conduct testing and demonstration of the microgrid at Wheeler Air Force Base in Hawaii. The all-electric APVs will incorporate REV's proprietary drive, power management and mobile communications technologies with Ford Escape and F-150 platforms, according to a UPI news article. Fleets can work with the APVs and use their combined energy storage capabilities to provide fast backup power during emergencies such as broken power lines, damaged transformers and periods of exceptionally high electricity demand. REV says the APVs' mission is efficient power management, renewable energy integration, energy storage and smart charging of plug-in electric vehicles.

Quick Take: While the benefits in military applications are fairly obvious, there does seem to be some momentum. This is the second day in a row we’ve posted something on the Defense Department’s microgrid initiatives.

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