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U.S. Army Launches Fuel Cell Testing With GM

WARREN (WWJ) -- The U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8 a.m. Dec. 16 to start hydrogen fuel cell testing with General Motors M at the U.S. Army's new Ground System Power and Energy Laboratory.

The event will also highlight and celebrate numerous Cooperative Research and Development Agreements that TARDEC has collaborated with industry partners on throughout the years to enhance our awareness of innovative technologies critical to enabling military ground systems and future energy capabilities.

At the GSPEL grand opening last year, U.S. Army officials encouraged industry and academic stakeholders to partner with government scientists and engineers to use the GSPEL's new high-tech facilities to develop new dual-use power and mobility systems that would benefit both industry and military researchers.

"Through CRADAs, the Army has the opportunity to leverage its research and development efforts with industry," said TARDEC director Paul Rogers. "A goal of TARDEC is to demonstrate a battlefield fuel reduction to reduce the logistical burden on our warfighters. CRADAs, such as the one with GM, will assist in maturing and accelerating technologies critical to the Army's future ground vehicle platforms."

CRADAs are established between federal laboratories and commercial, academic or nonprofit partners to ease technology transfer between the parties for mutual benefit. Under a CRADA, the partner may contribute resources such as personnel, services, property and funding to the effort. The government may contribute all of the above except funding. CRADAs also allow for the negotiation of licensing arrangements for patented inventions developed at the laboratories.

Headquartered at the U.S. Army Detroit Arsenal in Warren, TARDEC is a research, development and engineering center for the Army Materiel Command's Research, Development and Engineering Command and is an enterprise partner in the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command.

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