Horiba to Build Hybrid Army Vehicle Tester

Horiba Automotive Test Systems of California has been given official approval by the US Army to build a heavy-duty multiaxle system to test new hybrid vehicles.

The system will be used to test hybrid vehicles for driver, vehicle and terrain simulation at the army's Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center in Michigan.

The system will be capable of accommodating tracked vehicles weighing up to 44t, and ten-wheeled trucks weighing up to 33t.

In addition, it can measure and calibrate up to 1,000 data signals, and simulate the extreme duty cycles and terrains that military vehicles encounter, from deserts to Arctic tundra.

The system is expected to become operational in 2011.