DARPA Tests USMC's Shadow HEV

The Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Virginia, says the U.S. Marine Corps’ first 4x4 hybrid-electric tactical vehicle –the Shadow reconnaissance, surveillance and targeting vehicle (RST-V) – has been tested by the Office of Naval Research and DARPA, and may soon challenge the Humvee as the dominant vehicle for military use.

The RST-V is a high-mobility, electric drive technology demonstrator that incorporates a lightweight diesel engine coupled to a permanent-magnetic generator, which drives four in-hub, permanent-magnet electric wheel motors. The RST-V is suited as a reconnaissance vehicle, as its lithium-ion battery pack enables silent movement for upwards of 20 miles with low thermal and acoustic signatures.

The vehicle has an aluminum body and runs on a hybrid-electric drive based on a front-mounted, turbo-charged, inter-cooled, common rail, direct-injection, diesel engine (type 2.5 L DI-4V) rated at 114kW. During rapid acceleration, maximum torque, or to recharge the battery pack, the Shadow is operated in hybrid mode using power from the diesel engine and taking energy from or returning it to the batteries as needed. The Shadow has a maximum road speed of 112kph, a capacity of 95L of fuel and an unrefueled range of 758km at a speed of 50kph. On battery power alone the vehicle’s range is 32km.