MILITARY
and inboard
con gurations
respectively.
The programme’s
powertrain provider, Magtec, o ers
series, parallel and full electric powertrains
for commercial vehicles. Its electric
hybrid drive systems include independent
in-hub traction motors, direct-drive
in-line traction motors and bespoke
drive traction motors, all with hightech
gearbox solutions. It has already
developed a complete drive train system
for the MoD 6x6 SEP (modular armoured
tactical vehicle system) wheeled vehicle
programme. The system relies on in-hub
wheel motors with a two-speed gearbox
and brake system. A series hybrid
powertrain, it employs dual generator
systems, power distribution and control
systems.
The four-wheel reconnaissance and
patrol vehicles are likely to have hub-
mounted traction motors to facilitate
independent operation of each wheel.
Similar to the Magtec SEP programme
vehicle, with the probable addition of
batteries allowing them to be driven on
electric power only for short periods,
this con guration would facilitate the
stealth mode and ability of the vehicles to
perform a neutral turn. The MAN SV load-
carrying vehicle is a likely contender for a
direct drive in-line generator and traction
motor. The MAN SV vehicle range is 4x4,
6x6 and 8x8, with drive to their hubreduction
axles distributed via transfer
cases. An in-line hybrid drive would mean
conversion would not require the vehicle’s
driveline to totally re-engineered.
As has been the case in parallel hybrid
and all electric commercial vehicles,
the requirement for heavy banks of
batteries is at the expense of
payload. Military
load carriers are
classi ed by their
payload. In terms of
weight and volume,
the majority of the
Army’s lift capability
on the battle eld is
focussed on moving
artillery ammunition.
Magtec says its largest
combination of generator and direct
traction motor will provide more than
enough traction capability for commercial
vehicles up to 26t gvw, which should be
su cient for the Army’s 6x6 nine-tonne
MAN SV workhorse.
While Magtec designs and
manufactures EV and hybrid vehicle
battery systems from 27kWh to more
than 300kWh, using a range of high
performance LiFePO4 cells, it has also
designed and installed energy bu ers
using supercapacitors on commercial
vehicles up to 26t gvw with peak power
capabilities of 300kW and energy storage
capacity of more than 3MJ. Given the
Army’s continuing requirement to carry
heavy logistics payloads, it is probable it
is looking at series hybrid solutions for
its heavy load carriers to avoid the need
for heavy and chassis space-hungry
batteries; although a parallel hybrid
solution could suit other applications for
the SV.
The programme is scheduled to
produce a nal report in 2021, which will
provide the evidence on the bene ts
and constraints of hybridisation within a
military environment.
ADVANTAGES
The Army believes hybrid vehicles will also
o er numerous tactical advantages on
the battle eld, including stealth. “Using
electric we can deliver the power at the
right moment,” continues Sutthery. “It
means we will be able to drive to places
that we are not currently able to go to,
because the diesel engine simply wouldn’t
have the power. Tactically this will give
us greater freedom of manoeuvre, and
we will be able to go to places the enemy
wouldn’t expect. Soldiers will be able to
extract quickly and easily from narrow
gaps rather than complete a three-point
turn, which is not always possible. The
driver switches to electric mode and the
vehicle will be able to turn on its own
length. Until now, only tracked armoured
vehicles were capable of doing that.”
The MoD declined to answer questions
about which powertrains it is employing
in the vehicle prototypes on trial, but
its capability and performance dream
sheet, outlined in its media release,
suggests a mix of technologies. UTAC has
revealed that there are di erent vehicle
con gurations and the trial will investigate
the potential for wider adaptation. It
says: “The team is comparing the more
conventional drivetrain layout used in the
MAN SV with the Foxhound and Jackal
vehicles, which have more complex
individual hub drives and outboard
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