The diesel engine appears to be charging only, with electric motors providing propulsion. The formula balances military fuel infrastructure with more stealthy electric propulsion. GM has previously abandoned hybrid trucks but this year confirmed that plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) are coming.
General Motors has transformed the heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck into a combat-ready hybrid.
Unveiled this week at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) annual meeting, the GM Next Gen tactical vehicle prototype is based on the off-road-focused Chevy Silverado 2500HD ZR2. But instead of the gasoline or diesel V-8 engines in civilian models, the tactical truck combines a smaller 2.8-liter 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine with a 12-unit battery pack and electric motors that power the front and rear axles.
2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2
GM’s light-hearted description of the project sounds similar in approach to the plug-in hybrid system used in the defunct Chevrolet Volt, where the engine is used primarily as a generator for the electric motors that provide most of the actual propulsion. In this case, it may provide all the thrust, making it a hybrid series.
Assuming the modules in this battery pack are the same large pouch cell modules that GM previously called Ultium, this would provide roughly the same battery capacity of 102 kilowatt-hours — enough to travel more than a hundred miles on all-electric power, even In a huge car. Armored military truck.
GM abandoned hybrids of any kind a few years ago, but indicated earlier this year that it would bring hybrids back.
The electrified powertrain offers several advantages, according to the company, including the ability to silently enter and exit hazardous areas, and a lower heat signature that makes the truck more difficult to detect. GM says using a diesel engine makes logistics less complicated, as the truck can take advantage of existing military infrastructure to supply fuel if shipping is not available.
GM Defense Next Gen tactical vehicle prototype
The battery pack can also be used as a power source for equipment, and the truck retains many of the driver aids from civilian models, including anti-lock brakes, stability control, and a 360-degree camera system. They are available in two-, four- and six-seat configurations.
GM has tried to repurpose some of its other technologies into electric vehicles for military applications. In 2021, the automaker announced plans to build prototypes of an all-electric military vehicle based on the GMC Hummer EV, and unveiled a demo version in 2023. Earlier this year, GM also said it was supplying batteries to the military for research . But we’re mainly looking at energy storage rather than electric cars.
