Fuel Cell Powered Multi-Use Tactical Vehicle with Distributed Power

There is a currently a growing need from the Air Force to replace multiple large scale vehicles with hybrids that can significantly reduce their logistical footprint. A combined MB-4 aircraft tow tractor/-86 GENSET hybrid vehicle is therefore greatlydesired to reduce logistics in air base operations. Furthermore, there is a major concern regarding vehicle operation on military bases, namely, fuel consumption and urban pollution. To address this concern, the department of defense (DoD) hascommissioned the design of hybrid-electric vehicles to reduce diesel consumption and emissions. This shift from diesel to electric power is part of a greater program within the DoD to phase in hydrogen-based (fuel cell) power generation over the next 15years. Lynntech Inc.'s patented bipolar proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology is ideally suited for high efficiency, power generation. Lynntech's fuel cells have been recognized by NASA and the aerospace industry for their high powerdensity and specific power. The overall goal of this project is the design, fabrication, integration, testing, and delivery of one 100 kW fuel cell stack for use as the primary power source in an all electric, Air Force MB-4 tow tractor/GENSET. It isanticipated that this Phase I project will provide the required system specifications to successfully develop the fuel cell power system needed to convert an existing hybrid-electric tow tractor from battery/diesel power to hydrogen fed fuel cell power.Lynntech is heavily committed to developing light weight fuel cells for both the government and commercially. Besides military tow tractors, the fuel cell power system being developed is also useful in civilian mobile and stationary applications. Suchapplications include civilian airport vehicles, primary power for stationary facilities, backup/peak-shaving power for remote installations such as cellular towers, and primary and regenerative power for manned and unmanned aerial vehicles