WASHINGTON — Oshkosh Protection on Tuesday unveiled a silent drive hybrid electrical model of the Joint Mild Tactical Automobile it has fielded to the U.S. navy and different clients.
“We developed the JLTV to supply our navy clients an inexpensive strategy to electrify a lightweight tactical wheeled car fleet with out compromising efficiency or safety,” John Bryant, Oshkosh’s president, mentioned throughout a digital briefing.
The eJLTV gives “a couple of important additions” over the JLTV: exportable energy, improved gas economic system and applied sciences that allow silent drive and prolonged silent watch, “eliminating the noise and warmth signatures related to diesel engines,” Bryant mentioned.
The car was developed utilizing commercially obtainable elements and know-how, he added.
Oshkosh selected to give attention to a hybrid car relatively than a completely electrical model as a result of it eliminates the necessity for charging stations, an actual problem for utilizing the car on the battlefield.
The lithium ion battery costs whereas the diesel engine is in use, Bryant mentioned. “It has the capability of 30-kilowatt hours. The batteries, that are exceptionally sturdy, are designed for use for at least 10 years,” he added.
The eJLTV additionally has elevated export energy as much as 115 kilowatts, Bryant mentioned, eliminating the necessity for towed mills.
Transitioning from silent mode to traditional mode occurs via a “flip of a swap, and you are able to do this on the go,” Bryant mentioned.
The design additionally permits Oshkosh to show present JLTVs into hybrid electrical variations.
Below the present contract to ship JLTVs to the navy, the corporate has already constructed 15,000 of the automobiles and can finally construct over 66,000 by 2024 for roughly $30 billion.
“Electrification of the bottom car fleet has turn out to be more and more necessary to our navy clients,” Bryant mentioned. “Oshkosh Protection has been using hybrid electrical know-how for the U.S. navy on heavy- and medium-duty tactical wheeled automobiles for years, though adoption has largely been in small portions, demonstration and check packages.”
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Lately, the U.S. Military and the opposite navy companies have been wading into the murky waters of fielding electrical automobiles as trade comes ahead with extra choices.
For example, in Might 2021, the Military held an illustration at Fort Benning, Georgia, the place it evaluated electrical car choices to assist inform necessities for a doable future Electrical Mild Reconnaissance Automobile, or eLRV.
GM Protection final yr hosted Military officers in Michigan, permitting them to check drive an all-electric model of the service’s Infantry Squad Automobile, and discussing learn how to finest function and handle an all-electric fleet.
However in the case of navy automobiles, the companies have tended to take the place {that a} hybrid electrical model would probably be the extra sensible choice, significantly for fight automobiles that require a number of energy.
The Military has continued evaluation and know-how growth of a next-generation powertrain for the JLTV that considers hybrid and full-electric choices.
The principle motive Oshkosh developed the eJLTV “was as a result of we listened to our clients,” Bryant mentioned. “That message that we heard was that the navy buyer would desire a hybrid electrical know-how and so we set out a few yr and a half in the past with ideas to develop that platform. We truly mixed a number of the necessities from a couple of totally different Military and Marine Corps science and know-how packages.”
The Military is making ready to carry a full and open competitors for the following JLTV contract. The service shouldn’t be requiring or providing incentives for a hybrid electrical car design presently, however is together with a want for improved gas effectivity and the incorporation of lithium ion batteries to run sure capabilities like radios whereas the engine is off.
The Military plans to launch a request for proposals early this yr and award a contract to 1 workforce in September 2022. Navistar, GM Protection and AM Normal have all mentioned they plan to compete.
“I consider the supply choice standards for the recompete [is] pretty properly outlined proper now,” Bryant mentioned. “I might be very stunned if the Military added a requirement for the eJLTV to the recompete itself. However, once more, we’re prepared. If the Military wished to do this we’re able to construct them this car proper now.”
Jen Judson is an award-winning journalist masking land warfare for Protection Information. She has additionally labored for Politico and Inside Protection. She holds a Grasp of Science in journalism from Boston College and a Bachelor of Arts from Kenyon School.