Regan Brown
The Humvee, or HMMWV, is a four-wheel-drive military vehicle produced by AM General and used by the US Army. The US military has been criticized for using fuel-inefficient vehicles, with the Department of Defense burning through 4 billion gallons of fuel annually. In response, the Army has been working on improving the fuel efficiency of its vehicles, including the Humvee, through the FED (Fuel Efficient Demonstrator) program. While the average fuel efficiency of a military-grade Humvee is around 8 mpg on the highway and 4 mpg in the city, the FED Alpha, a troop carrier, offers 70% better mileage, and the FED Bravo prototype is twice as fuel-efficient as the traditional Humvee.
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What You'll Learn
- The US Army is selling off thousands of surplus Humvees to the public
- The Humvee's average fuel efficiency is around 8 mpg on the highway and 4 mpg in the city
- The FED Alpha is a troop carrier that gets roughly 70% better mileage than the M1114 Hummer
- The FED Bravo prototype is twice as fuel-efficient as the traditional Humvee
- The US Department of Defense burns through almost 4 billion gallons of fuel each year
The US Army is selling off thousands of surplus Humvees to the public
The US Army has a surplus of Humvees, and they are selling them to the public. In fact, they have been doing so since 2014, when the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) began selling the two most basic Humvee models, the M998 and the M1038.
The DLA manages the military's surplus equipment and puts it through a disposal process. This begins by offering equipment as a donation to federal agencies, then to state agencies, and finally, if it is still in inventory, to the public through a contractor. However, there are some inconsistencies in the surplus demilitarization process, with different parts of the Defense Department interpreting the rules differently. For example, the Marine Corps and Special Operations Command (SOCOM) are demilitarizing and selling Humvees that the DLA won't, and some surplus vehicles are being loaned to local police forces through the controversial 1033 program.
If you're thinking of buying one of these surplus Humvees, be aware that you'll likely need to spend a lot of money to get it into a "streetable" condition. They are also not known for their fuel efficiency, with the traditional Humvee model getting only 3 to 6 miles per gallon. However, the US Army has been working to improve the fuel efficiency of their vehicles, and they have developed the FED Alpha, which gets about 7 miles per gallon, and the FED Bravo, a hybrid-electric model that gets up to 14.2 miles per gallon.
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The Humvee's average fuel efficiency is around 8 mpg on the highway and 4 mpg in the city
The Humvee, or the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), is a four-wheel-drive military truck produced by AM General. It has seen widespread use in the US military and has been utilised in various operations and conflicts, including in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo. With its powerful engine and off-road capabilities, the Humvee has become an iconic vehicle. However, it has also gained notoriety for its poor fuel efficiency, averaging only around 8 mpg on the highway and 4 mpg in city usage.
The Humvee's fuel economy is a significant concern, especially considering the US Department of Defense's massive fuel consumption, estimated at approximately 4 billion gallons per year. The military's use of extremely fuel-inefficient vehicles, such as hovercraft that burn 20 gallons of gas per mile, contributes to this high consumption. In recent years, the Army has recognised the need to reduce fuel consumption on the battlefield and has been working on improving the fuel efficiency of its vehicles.
The Fuel Efficient Demonstrator (FED) program, launched in 2008, aims to enhance military vehicle technology and reduce the nation's dependence on oil. One outcome of this program is the FED Alpha, a troop carrier that achieves roughly 70% better mileage than the M1114 Hummer, which manages around 4 mpg. While the FED Alpha's mileage is still relatively low at about 7 mpg, it represents a significant improvement over the standard Humvee.
The FED Bravo prototype takes fuel efficiency a step further, delivering twice the mileage of a traditional Humvee. It achieves 8.2 mpg in city driving and 14.2 mpg on the highway, a notable enhancement over the standard Humvee's 3 to 6 mpg. This increased efficiency is partly due to its diesel-hybrid engine and a combined hydraulic system for braking and steering, which reduces parasitic losses. The FED Bravo also includes power export capabilities, allowing soldiers to utilise its battery pack to power tools and other equipment.
While the US Army continues to sell surplus Humvees to the public, the quest for more fuel-efficient military vehicles persists. The FED program and its derivatives, such as the FED Alpha and FED Bravo, showcase the Army's efforts to reduce fuel consumption and improve vehicle technology. As the Army noted, even the most advanced fuel economy systems can be undermined by a heavy foot on the gas pedal, so driver cooperation is crucial in achieving better fuel efficiency.
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The FED Alpha is a troop carrier that gets roughly 70% better mileage than the M1114 Hummer
The US Army has been working on improving the fuel efficiency of its vehicles, including Humvees, for over a decade. The Fuel Efficient Demonstrator (FED) program was launched in 2008 with the goal of improving military vehicle technology, reducing fuel consumption on the battlefield, and decreasing the nation's dependence on oil.
The FED Alpha is a troop carrier that achieves roughly 70% better mileage than the M1114 Hummer, which gets around 4 miles per gallon (mpg). The FED Alpha's improved fuel efficiency is due to several factors. Firstly, it minimizes excess weight by using aluminum and aluminum alloys in structural elements. It also features specially treated low-friction parts, a custom engine, a custom transmission, and lightweight, high-performance brakes similar to those used in race cars. Additionally, the FED Alpha's gas pedal is designed to vibrate and resist when a driver attempts to exceed the most fuel-efficient maximum speed, encouraging fuel-efficient driving habits.
The M1114 Hummer, introduced in 1996, has been associated with fuel inefficiency. With the FED Alpha, the Army has made significant strides toward more fuel-efficient troop carriers. However, it is important to note that even with a 70% improvement, the FED Alpha's mileage of around 7 mpg is still not very competitive when compared to average consumer trucks or cars.
The FED Alpha is not the only initiative by the Army to enhance fuel efficiency. There is also the FED Bravo, a hybrid-electric demonstrator that offers even greater fuel efficiency. The FED Bravo prototype achieves 8.2 mpg in city usage and 14.2 mpg on the highway, showcasing the potential for more sustainable military vehicles. These efforts by the Army align with the Pentagon's goal of reducing the cost and risk associated with delivering diesel fuel to military convoys.
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![Hot Wheels Humvee, HW First Response 4/10 [Dark Blue] 33/250](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81I0LAXQPgL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
The FED Bravo prototype is twice as fuel-efficient as the traditional Humvee
The US Army has been working on improving the fuel efficiency of its vehicles, including the Humvee, for many years. The Fuel Efficient Demonstrator (FED) program was launched in 2008 with the goal of improving military vehicle technology, reducing fuel consumption on the battlefield, and decreasing the nation's dependence on oil.
The FED Bravo is a prototype vehicle that was unveiled by the US Army in 2018 as part of the FED program. It is a diesel-electric hybrid with a 4.4-liter, 8-cylinder diesel engine from Ford, coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission and a hybrid drive for the rear axle. It also features an electric motor that powers the front wheels and a lithium-ion battery pack. The FED Bravo is a full hybrid weighing 16,700-16,760 pounds.
The FED Bravo also has several other advantages over the traditional Humvee. It has power export capabilities, allowing soldiers to use the vehicle's battery pack as a power source for their tools and other equipment. This feature was not present in the previous FED Alpha version. The FED Bravo also has all the power, mobility, all-terrain capability, and armor upfitting needed to replace the Humvee.
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The US Department of Defense burns through almost 4 billion gallons of fuel each year
The US Department of Defense (DoD) is responsible for a staggering amount of fuel consumption, with estimates placing their usage at around 4 billion gallons of fuel per year. This makes the DoD one of the world's largest consumers of oil and a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
To put this into perspective, the DoD's fuel consumption is roughly equivalent to the gasoline used by all Allied armies during World War I or by 255 million passenger vehicles in a year. Aircraft are particularly fuel-intensive, with the B-2 stealth bomber, for instance, burning 4.28 gallons per mile.
The DoD has recognized the need to reduce its dependence on oil and improve its energy efficiency. Initiatives like the Tactical Garbage to Energy Refinery Program, which converts waste into fuel, and the use of hybrid-electric vehicles are being explored. The Army, in particular, has been working on making its Humvees more fuel-efficient. The FED Alpha, for example, achieves 70% better mileage than the M1114 Hummer, and the FED Bravo, a hybrid-electric prototype, offers twice the fuel efficiency, achieving up to 14.2 mpg.
Despite these efforts, the DoD's fuel consumption remains a concern, especially given the difficulty in accurately tracking and reporting its fossil fuel usage. The Pentagon, for instance, does not consistently report fuel consumption data to Congress. As a result, the DoD is under pressure to "'be unleashed from the tether of fuel,' reducing its reliance on vulnerable oil convoys in war zones.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Army Humvees are not fuel-efficient. The average fuel efficiency of a military-grade Humvee is around 8 miles per gallon on the highway and 4 in the city. The U.S. Department of Defense uses around 4 billion gallons of fuel each year, in part because military vehicles are some of the least fuel-efficient on the planet.
Yes, the U.S. Army has sold Army surplus Humvees to the public in the past. Starting bids were as low as $10,000. However, it is important to note that AM General, the company that manufactures the Humvee, has stated that they might not be willing to service or provide replacement parts for these vehicles. Additionally, Humvees were designed for military missions and may not meet civilian safety standards.
The FED program is a collaboration between the U.S. Army and Ricardo Inc., a U.K.-based engineering firm, to improve military vehicle technology, reduce fuel consumption on the battlefield, and decrease the nation's dependence on oil. The FED Alpha, a troop carrier that gets roughly 70% better mileage than the M1114 Hummer (around 7 mpg), is one result of this program. The FED Bravo, a hybrid-electric version, is also being developed and tested.
![Hot Wheels Humvee, HW Dirt 1/10 [red] 55/250](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81n3oNhrBkL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
