Shaw to begin one-year hybrid refueler test

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman John Gordinier
  • 20th Fighter Wing public affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AFNEWS) --  Fuels Airmen here are putting the Air Force's only R-11 Hybrid Electric Aviation Refueler through its paces during a one-year test that began here this month.

The test will determine how much the 72,000-pound hybrid reduces emissions and conserves diesel fuel, potentially saving the Air Force money, said 2nd Lt. Zack Buckallew, 20th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance flight commander.

The test will also track maintenance costs to see if the hybrid is less expensive to operate.

"Shaw was chosen for the test because currently we refuel our aircraft using diesel trucks," said 2nd Lt. Stephanie La Mon, 20th LRS fuel management flight commander.

Shaw refueling trucks make approximately 1,600 refueling trips and pump more than 1.5 million gallons of jet fuel every month, she said. Each R-11 refueler, including the hybrid, can hold 6,000 gallons of jet fuel.

While the hybrid has the same storage capacity as a regular refueler, it will reduce diesel costs and emissions by using electricity for every trip to the aircraft.

The refueler operates a lot like a regular hybrid car, Lieutenant Buckallew said. The vehicle operates with a diesel engine, an electric motor and a battery pack to optimize fuel efficiency.

After the hybrid is started, the electric motor, which draws stored electricity from the battery pack, is used to get the vehicle up to speed, the lieutenant said. Once the truck is at an optimal speed, the diesel engine takes over. The battery pack restores energy by a regenerative braking process. The system captures energy that is lost during the driver's "stop and go" process.

"During the test, we will closely evaluate hours used, mileage, fuel consumption saved, the life of the fuel pump and various metric readouts," Lieutenant Buckallew said. "Once completed, we will send the results up to leadership and they will make the decision on the value of the R-11 hybrid refuelers."

The hybrid refueler prototype was built by the Mack-Volvo Corporation at a cost of $1.2 million for the Advance Power Technologies Office at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., Lieutenant Buckallew said. Normal diesel-powered R-11s cost about $200,000.

"It is too early to tell if the hybrid refueler will be successful because we haven't started any tests," Lieutenant Buckallew said. "As a truck, it runs fine and it is successful at refueling F-16s (Fighting Falcons)." 

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