This contract, worth $1.4 million, tested whether or not hybrid technology is advanced enough to replace present non-combat military vehicles.

The hope was to have the benefits of one-person operation without the cost of replacing vehicles that still remaining service life.

They are replacing vehicles that are at least 10 years old, many of them ancient Jeeps.

They were designed to replace several manned vehicles with a single automated one, controlled from a central operating station.

The new vehicles were deemed necessary to replace current vehicles over 3 years old or 160,000 km use.

But the next downturn could be particularly severe if Americans decide to delay replacing vehicles that are still running well after years of use.

The rule does not cover buses, but states are scrambling to replace dirty vehicles of any size.

New rolling stock has also progressively come on line, replacing older vehicles.

They later replaced complete vehicles and weapons in one-to-one exchanges.

At a cost of $52,784 each, the vans will replace aging vehicles in the county's fleet.