Electric Military Concept Vehicle Variant
GM Defense’s Electric Military Concept Vehicle (eISV) combines the proven and fielded nine-passenger Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) with General Motors’ (GM) commercially available battery electric solution. The eISV’s battery technology provides Silent Watch and Silent Extraction, enhances capability with low acoustic and thermal signatures and serves as an onboard, mobile generation power source for various mission equipment payload packages.
The concept vehicle seats up to five passengers and features a cargo box, providing the flexibility to integrate a full range of mission packages and logistics support, including ammunition, food, water and fuel. The concept vehicle also includes a modified integrated Roll Over Protection System (ROPS) constructed from 4130 chromoly steel tubing delivering lightweight, high-strength protection for all passengers.
Leveraging a Commercial-based Design Approach
The eISV maintains the rugged, off-road performance, attributes and capabilities of the original nine-passenger ISV, a U.S. Army official program of record specifically designed to meet Soldier requirements. The ISV is based on the award-winning Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 midsize truck architecture and is comprised of 90 percent Commercial-Off-The-Shelf components, including 11 Colorado ZR2 off-road suspension and chassis upgrades from Chevrolet Performance.
After testing and validation, the eISV would maintain the key attributes of the ISV, including:
- Ultra-light and rapidly deployable: Weighing less than 5000 pounds/2232 kilograms, it can be deployed or inserted through C-17, C-130 and A400M low-velocity air drop, internally transported in a CH/MH-47 Chinook, CH-53E Super Stallion, CH-53K King Stallion or sling-loaded under a UH-60 Blackhawk.
- Off-road performance: Features high-volume production battery electric technology, high and low four-wheel drive with front and rear locking differentials to deliver responsive power, high-end torque and traction management able to overcome complex off-road conditions.
- Accessibility: Features accessible commercial parts that may be obtained through GM’s existing global supply chain.
- Adaptable: Additional lethality, remote weapon systems, fixed pintle or swing-arm mounts can be integrated to accommodate medium and heavy machine guns and grenade launchers.
Enhancing Performance While Reducing Risk to the Force and Mission
The eISV includes features that strengthen capabilities to help achieve mission success, including:
- Silent Watch and Silent Extraction with low acoustic and thermal signature
- Improved off-road performance on complex terrain and virtually instantaneous high-end torque delivered from a stop position and maintained at very low speeds
- Abundant stored and exportable power generation for integrated mission packages
- Exportable power that can be used to reduce battery consumption and demand for the dismounted force
- Electric drives that should be easier to maintain due to the reduced number of parts in the overall system
- Travel distances similar to those of internal combustion engine solutions
