New hydrogen concept from Hyundai is taking back “tank turn”
When Rivian posted its now legendary “tank turn” video back in 2019, it forced a lot of people to realize that electric drive could open up new possibilities for the way cars move. Now, Hyundai Rotem is promising to build a silent, electric-drive battle tank that can pull off the same trick — and a whole lot more.
Diesel-electric drive technology isn’t new. It’s been powering trains, cranes, and other big machines for decades. It’s only relatively recently that the US military began experimenting with diesel electric “hybrid” tanks, however — with the Bradley BHEV prototype breaking cover (publicly, at least) for the first time in 2022. The US Army reported that the hybrid electric drive configuration allowed for a 20% improvement in fuel economy, increased operating range, and improved performance. At the same time, the Army speculated that the Bradley BHEV would require reduced maintenance compared to its diesel counterparts, due to a reduction in the number of moving parts and the reduced load(s) on the diesel generator.
Hyundai Rotem’s latest concept takes that idea a step further by removing the diesel generator altogether and replacing it with hydrogen fuel cells that would not only send power to electric motors driving the tank’s treads, but do so silently.
What’s more, because a fuel cell and battery pack-equipped tank can operate without giving off a diesel exhaust’s heat signature, it effectively masks the tank from thermal vision equipment and heat-seeking weaponry.
“In line with the ESG [environmental, social, governance] trend, we are developing tanks powered by hydrogen fuel cells, an eco-friendly energy source,” a Hyundai Rotem official said. “In collaboration with the [Korean government’s] Agency for Defense Development and others, with the development expected to be completed around 2040 according to the research roadmap.”
Which — look, calling hydrogen a “green” fuel is controversial, at best. It’s certainly impossible for hydrogen to compete with battery electric for transportation, but there may be a case for its use in extremely energy-dense situations like severe duty heavy equipment that might sink into mud or dirt due to the weight of its batteries or, frankly, military operations where cost and emissions are less of a concern than the ability to effectively help kill people before they kill you (no need to sugarcoat it). In that context, hydrogen might make sense.
Hyundai certainly thinks so, and the concept shown here enhances the capabilities of the company’s existing K2 main battle tank with better acceleration, quieter operation, and radar absorbing materials that, combined with the vehicle’s low heat signature, make it a very formidable machine.
The tank also features, autonomous driving to reduce the threat to human assets, remote drone operation for reconnaissance and support operations, and a 130 millimeter smooth bore gun.
Hyundai plans to begin production of a similar machine in the next decade, with the goal of eventually achieving a fully electrified tank platform by 2040.
Electrek’s Take
Pak Jae-yeol, commander of the 7th Corps, told The Korea Economic Daily that, “if tactical equipment such as tanks and helicopters move without noise and fumes, the army’s power will become stronger.”
It’s hard to argue with that. What I can argue with, however, is Hydrogen Insight’s assertion that, “Battery-electric military vehicles are not considered a practical option because armed forces cannot rely on access to an electricity grid in wartime.”
It’s hard to think of a dumber solution to fuel insecurity than hydrogen — a fuel that is notoriously difficult to refine, store, and transport (safely or otherwise). Especially when off-grid solar and wood-burning solutions for generating heat and electricity are actively being developed by other respected defense contractors like Rolls-Royce and Volvo.
But no one asked me, right? The good news is that I’m asking you whether or not any of that makes sense, so head on down to the comments and tell me how it is.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Hyundai Rotem, via The Korea Herald; Fuel Cell Works, Hydrogen Insight.
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Environment
U.S. could reach deal with Canada that avoids oil and gas tariffs, energy secretary says
HOUSTON — The U.S. could reach an agreement with Canada that avoids tariffs on imports of oil, gas and other energy resources, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Monday.
Wright said such a scenario is “certainly is possible” but “it’s too early to say” in response to a question from CNBC during a press conference at the CERAWeek by S&P Global. The U.S. is in “active dialogue” with Canada and Mexico, the energy secretary said.
President Donald Trump has paused until April 2 tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports that are compliant with the agreement which governs trade in North America. Trump originally imposed broad 25% tariffs on goods from both countries as well as lesser 10% tariffs on energy imports from Canada.
It’s unclear, however, how much of the oil, gas and other energy that the U.S. imports from Canada is compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Wright declined to provide specifics when CNBC asked how much of those imports are USMCA compliant.
“I’m going to avoid the details for now,” Wright said. The energy secretary said, “We can get to no tariffs or very low tariffs but it’s got to be reciprocal” in an interview with CNBC’s Brian Sullivan.
Canada’s energy minister, Jonathan Wilkinson, warned last week that energy prices will rise in the U.S. if the tariffs on energy imports go into full effect.
“We will see higher gasoline prices as a function of energy, higher electricity prices from hydroelectricity from Canada, higher home heating prices associated with natural gas that comes from Canada and higher automobile prices,” Wilkinson told CNBC’s Megan Cassella in an interview.
The U.S. has been the largest producer of crude oil and natural gas in the world for years. But many refiners in the U.S. are dependent on heavy crude imported from Canada. The U.S. imported 6.6 million barrels of crude oil per day on average in December, more than 60% of which came from Canada, according to the Energy Information Administration.
Wright acknowledged that the tariffs are creating uncertainty in energy markets as negotiations continue.
“We’re in the middle of negotiations for where things are going to go with tariffs, so that feels frightening and gripping right now but this time will pass,” Wright said. “Deals will be made, we’ll get certainty and we’ll have a positive economic environment for Americans going forward.”
U.S. crude oil fell more than 1% Monday to close at $66.03 per barrel, while global benchmark Brent closed at $69.28 per barrel. Crude oil futures have pulled back substantially as Trump’s trade policy creates uncertainty and OPEC+ has confirmed that it plans to gradually bring back 2.2 million barrels per day of production beginning next month.
Apple is rolling out a notable update to Apple Maps EV Routing for Ford drivers. Starting today, Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning drivers can use Apple Maps EV Routing via CarPlay to plan road trips that include Tesla Superchargers – or any station that uses the North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector.
As I’ve explained before, Ford began shipping adapters CCS to NACS adapters that allow Mach-E and Lightning drivers to charge at Tesla Superchargers last year. Until today, however, Apple Maps was unaware of this change. This meant Apple Maps EV Routing would only route Mach-E and Lightning drivers to CCS charging stations, even though a route with Tesla Superchargers might’ve been more efficient.
With today’s change, Apple Maps via CarPlay will now include NACS fast charging stations, such as compatible Tesla Superchargers, in recommended route planning recommendations.
In a blog post, Ford explains:
Apple Maps EV Routing in CarPlay allows drivers to input their route and can view the estimated battery level they will have when they get to a destination, as well as suggested charging stations along the way if charging is needed. Previously, Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning drivers would have to manually open another app, then enter a NACS fast charger as a destination to have it added to their route. Now, with the Apple Maps EV Routing and NACS fast charger integration, the experience will be more seamless.
How to Use Apple Maps EV Routing in CarPlay:
- Connect your Apple iPhone to CarPlay.
- Open Apple Maps, go to Settings, and confirm your preferred charging network(s) – make sure you select a NACS fast charging station, such as Tesla Supercharger. You only have to do this once.
- Enter a destination.
- Apple Maps will then calculate the estimated state of charge you will have when you get to a destination.
- If a charge is required, depending on the fastest route, it will automatically route you to a NACS fast charging station.*
This is a significant update to the Apple Maps EV Routing experience for Ford drivers. Next up on my wishlist is support for battery preconditioning when using Apple Maps EV Routing. Android Auto added this feature last October.
The new feature is available now to iPhone users running iOS 17 or later. No software update is required for your car.
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James Murdoch, a Tesla board member and friend of CEO Elon Musk, has confirmed that he sold about $13 million in stock today as the stock (TSLA) crashed.
There has been a lot of insider trading at Tesla lately, and by trading, we mean selling – cause no insider is ever buying at Tesla.
We recently reported on Kimball Musk, Elon’s brother, and Tesla’s Chief Financial Officer Taneja Vaibhav recently selling ahead of a recent drop in the company’s stock price.
Tesla’s chairwoman, Robyn Denholm, also sold $33 million worth of Tesla shares last week and over $100 million in the last 3 months.
Now, it’s James Murdoch’s turn. The Tesla board member just confirmed, through a required SEC filing, that he sold 54,776 Tesla shares for just over $13 million today:
He sold as Tesla’s stock crashed 15% today. It is now down more than 50% from its all-time high just a few months ago.
Murdoch was appointed to Tesla’s board in 2017.
He is better known as the son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch and the former CEO of 21st Century Fox from 2015 to 2019.
Murdoch was one of the Tesla board directors who was forced to return almost $1 billion in cash and stock options to Tesla as part of a settlement for over-compensation.
Electrek’s Take
Tesla insiders are unloading, and those are just the ones we know about. Public companies only have to report insider trading for board directors and listed top executives.
For the latter, Tesla purposefully only lists 3 people: Elon, Vaibhav Taneja, Tesla’s CFO, and Tom Zhu, whose role at Tesla has bit quite fluid in recent years.
Therefore, we don’t know about the dozens of other top executives potentially selling their shares right now amid a giant correction.
It’s really suspicious because there are clear top leaders at Tesla who are often on Tesla’s earnings calls, and they are not even listed, like Lars Moravy, for example.
But it’s par for the course at Tesla, which has some of the worst corporate governance I have ever seen. It’s truly shameful.
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