Diesel Hybrid Army Truck Prototype is Green but Still Mean [Video]]

Hybrid-powered supercars have been creating lots of buzz lately, and now the U.S. Army is considering an eco-friendly powertrain to serve duty in the battlefield. Dubbed the Ultra Light Vehicle (ULV), this Army truck, which is still in its prototype phase, would be relatively lightweight, fuel-efficient, and still tough enough for military duty

The ULV doesn’t look much different from the current military Humvee, but it’s packed with advanced technology under its armored skin. The U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) started the project with four goals:
-Payload – 4500 lbs
-Performance – at 14,000 lbs curb weight
-Protection – comparable to the currently fielded Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles
-Price – $250,000 each in hypothetical 5000-unit production ru

The powertrain combines a diesel engine with two electric motors, one at the front axle and another at the rear. The army says the hybrid system will not only save fuel, but a pure-EV mode will enable “stealth” and “silent watch” drives, as well as exportable power generation. Better yet, the absence of a driveshaft allowed engineers to develop a stronger underbody to better withstand bombs. Additional kits can be added for more protection.

To save weight, body construction relies heavily on high-strength steels and composite materials, as well as a “transparent ceramic armor system.” The interior features a crushable floating floor system that helps absorb blast energy to protect passengers and there are seven possibilities to exit the ULV.

TARDEC received funding from the Office of the Secretary of Defense and built three prototypes in 16 months. Those prototypes are now being tested and the performance results should be completed by early next year. Get a preview of the vehicle in the video below.