The wildly successful Discovery Channel series “Storm Chasers” is hot on the trail of some of nature’s most destructive storms for another season. During peak tornado months the Storm Chasers team goes wherever the wind takes them, hunting down tornados in their Tornado Intercept Vehicle II (TIV II). Half tank, half mobile science lab, this one-of-a-kind truck relies on the ruggedness and dependability of OPTIMA® batteries to power both the vehicle and the extensive equipment inside. With the help of OPTIMA Batteries, these scientists are gaining a better understanding of tornados to help keep people safer with more accurate information to predict and forecast these deadly forces of nature.

The TIV II started humbly as a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 Mega Cab 4x4. It was transformed into a 6x6, steel-plated shooting platform for a 100-pound IMAX camera. This tornado tank took nearly eight months to build and weighs nearly seven tons.

The special features of the TIV II extend beyond the rugged, protective armor. The scientific instrumentation and gadgets incorporated into the vehicle include: Sonic anemometer; RM Young Blade Anemometer (measuring wind speed and direction); Data Logger; instruments that measure temperature, relative humidity, and pressure; and an IMAX camera to film direct tornado impacts. Both the equipment and the truck are powered by 16 OPTIMA batteries.