26 Apr 06. Azure’s Nigel Base told BATTLESPACE at the Commercial Vehicle show held at the NEC yesterday that,” The current hybrid and battery technology is not developed enough to move over 17 tonnes of armour. When new Li-Ion batteries are developed, then the technology can move forward. We offered our services to Atkins as a rainbow Team Member but were rebuffed. He suggested that the current AHED trials being run by General Dynamics could also meet similar constraints, particularly as hub motors add weight to the axle and this become unreliable over time.
“We have eighty hybrid engineers, more than any other technology company in the world,” said Base as he demonstrated the latest addition to the Company’s range a JV with GKN on a hybrid drive 4×4 Transit.
“We believe that the military is going down the wrong road in believing that electric drive is the answer to a Maiden’s Prayer. The choice of a diesel for FCS with hybrid as an option is the first sign of change of course. BAE has also offered diesel ass its preferred choice for FRES. Industry Research has shown that hybrid drive is suitable for town operations, i.e. stopping and starting to fill the batteries, not long-distance convoy work. The answer lies in high voltage generators instead of current alternators. We are working with a UK Defence Contractor replacing their standard alternator with our generator system that can generate as much as 300 volts. We have already fitted such a system for a U.S. HMMV NBC Requirement. As Power is required 24/7 the system can switch from 12 to 24 to AC or DC and land supply using computer switches. More voltage means less cabling and therefore less weight.” Base continued
“We see a huge market for Command Post vehicles that have a high power requirement to drive the communications systems and the air conditioning unit required to keep the systems cool.”
Azure Dynamics’ vision has remained steadily focused on producing top-quality, road-worthy, and cost-effective components and integrated solutions. Today thousands of vehicles around the world rely on Azure Dynamics electric and hybrid electric drives, auxiliary systems, and energy storage systems. Azure’s vehicles have driven over twenty-five million road miles and have demonstrated higher up-time than their conventional counterparts.
Incorporated in 1997, Vancouver-based Azure Dynamics’ principal business lies in the development and commercialization of control systems for hybrid electric and electric vehicle powertrains. Azure believes its patented technology is the ultimate form of hybrid electric vehicle energy management. The Azure Control Systems (“ACS”) technology is a real-time energy management system that adapts the operation of the hybrid electric vehicle to any driving mode. It employs software comprising sophisticated mathematical algorithms and real-time on-board data analysis to continuously manage the complex relationships between the engine, electric motor and battery. Azure has also developed and designed cost effective electric motors, controllers, DC to DC converters and inverters which it manufacturers and supplies to vehicle integrators as well as uses in its own applications.
With operations based in North America and Europe, Azure Dynamics has delivered thousands of electric and hybrid electric systems and has over 25 million miles of vehicle experience. Azure Dynamics customers have used our vehicles for mail delivery, parcel delivery, taxi services, beverage delivery, packaged goods delivery and utility vehicles and shuttle bus operations.
Azure is a public company trading on both the TSX Exchange TSX (AZD) in Canada as well as the AIM market AIM (ADC) in London, UK