October 11, 2007:
The U.S. Marine Corps is
installing electrical generators in its heavy trucks. Thus equipped, the seven
ton MTVR (Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements) trucks can provide power for
camps, or the additional electrical gear carried by moving vehicles. So
equipped, each stationary MTVR can generate 100 kilowatts of power (or 20 while
moving). The marines currently have over a thousand MTVRs in Iraq, where they
spend most of their time moving supplies. But when not on the move, the
vehicles can be used to augment the growing electrical needs of bases. The U.S.
Army has already been doing this, and has been better able to deal with the
need for more electrical power (for the growing list of electronic gear, and
air conditioners, used by the troops). This generator option is also being
added to hummers, enabling the vehicle to generate 30 kilowatts when
stationary, and ten kilowatts when moving.