- Diesel engine seems to cost solely, with electrical motors offering propulsion
- The method balances navy gas infrastructure with stealthier electrical propulsion
- GM beforehand deserted truck hybrids however this yr confirmed PHEVs are coming
Normal Motors has turned a Chevrolet Silverado heavy-duty pickup truck right into a combat-ready hybrid.
Unveiled this week on the annual assembly of the Affiliation of the U.S. Military (AUSA), the GM Subsequent Gen tactical car prototype relies on the off-road-focused Chevy Silverado 2500HD ZR2. However as an alternative of the gasoline or diesel V-8 engines of civilian fashions, the tactical truck combines a smaller 2.8-liter turbodiesel inline-4 with a 12-module battery pack and electrical motors powering the entrance and rear axles.
2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2
GM’s light-on-details description of the undertaking sounds related in method to the plug-in hybrid system used within the defunct Chevrolet Volt, through which the engine is primarily used as a generator for electrical motors that present most of the particular propulsion. On this case, they may present all the propulsion, which might make it a sequence hybrid.
Assuming the modules on this battery pack are the identical large-format pouch-cell modules GM beforehand termed Ultium, this may provide about the identical 102-kwh battery capability—sufficient to go greater than 100 miles all-electric, even in a cumbersome armored navy truck.
GM deserted hybrids of any variety a number of years in the past, however earlier this yr it indicated it will convey plug-in hybrid powertrains again.
The electrified powertrain presents a number of benefits, in line with the corporate, together with the power to silently ingress and egress from harmful areas, and a decrease thermal signature that additionally makes the truck tougher to detect. Use of a diesel engine additionally makes logistics easier, because the truck can make the most of current navy fueling infrastructure if charging is not out there, GM argues.
GM Protection Subsequent Gen tactical car prototype
The battery pack can be used as an influence supply for tools, and the truck retains lots of the driver aids from civilian fashions, together with antilock brakes, stability management, and a 360-degree digicam system. It is out there in two-, four- and six-seat configurations.
GM has tried to repurpose a few of its different EV tech for navy functions. In 2021, the automaker introduced plans to construct prototypes of an all-electric navy car based mostly on the GMC Hummer EV, and unveiled an idea model in 2023. Earlier this yr, GM additionally stated it was supplying batteries to the navy for analysis functions, however primarily vitality storage fairly than electrical automobiles.