MILITARY EVS
“Typically, military vehicles have
to be able to withstand levels of
submersion in water that go way
beyond anything a normal passenger
vehicle would have to experience”
Raphaël Caillé, managing director, Swindon Powertrain
www.electrichybridvehicletechnology.com // January 2020 // 95
electric propulsion system and long travel
suspension for use in armored reconnaissance
vehicles, is well along the road to creating
bespoke electronic hub motors that could soon
feature in military ground vehicles.
Its main innovation has been around an
electric hub drive unit, which combines a
compact electric motor with a multi-stage
gearbox and integral brake that fi ts inside a
standard 20in wheel.
More importantly, it is able to operate at
either high output speed or high output torque,
unlike other conventional single-speed and
fi xed-speed hub drives. In a military setting,
this off ers unprecedented freedom in terms
of design and instantaneous performance
when required.
Placing a motor within the wheel (or wheels)
eliminates the need for bulky transmission and
drivetrain components, while the high output
torque and high output speed is designed to
match or exceed the current capability of
internal combustion engine counterparts.
“Electric propulsion is more e cient and
reliable than existing mechanical propulsion
and allows a higher degree of control and
startup speed, bringing agility to vehicles,
while reducing fuel demand,” says Moore.
“It can replace engines with electric power
sources, and fi xed mechanical parts with
fl exible cables, allowing vehicles
to be designed around
intended use rather than
engineering necessity.”
e-bike revolution
The humble bicycle has long been used by
armies as a quick, light and e cient way of
getting around. During World War One, Italy
used the basic two-wheeled transport with its
Bersaglieri (light infantry units) until the end
of the war, while the Finnish Defence Forces
still trains all new conscripts to use a bicycle
to this day.
Spanish trials bike manufacturer Bultaco
has enjoyed a recent resurgence by shifting
its focus to powerful e-bikes, and its latest
off -road Brinco model has been trialed and
tested by numerous armed and security forces
as a viable mode of transport.
In the UK, Swindon Powertrain’s fi rst foray
into electric vehicle concepts was also a rugged
e-bike in the form of the EB-01. Powered by
a 15kW electric motor and featuring a
lightweight but tough aluminum and carbon
fi ber hybrid shell, it bridges the gap between
hardy off -road motorcycle and pushbike.
According to Swindon Powertrain managing
director Raphaël Caillé, the cutting-edge
e-bike has the potential to be modifi ed to meet
the exacting standards of the military.
“We have worked on other military products
in the past, so understand what vehicles have
to go through to take it past the point of
concept stage,” he says. “Typically, military
vehicles have to be able to withstand
levels of submersion in water that go
way beyond anything a normal
passenger vehicle would have to
experience. This presents a real
engineering challenge when it
comes to packaging batteries and
electric motors but it is no harder
than anything we have experienced
with the internal combustion engine.”
1. The Swind EB-01
electric bike is lightweight
and rugged thanks to an
aluminum and carbon
fi ber shell, while a 15kW
motor provides plenty of
power for all types of
challenging terrains
1
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