Why GM Affords The Hummer EV As A Navy Car

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I just lately got here throughout a press launch by GM Protection that wasn’t about EVs. However, whereas poking round to see if it could be related to CleanTechnica, I got here throughout one thing attention-grabbing. The very a lot civilian-oriented Hummer EV is critically being provided on the market to militaries.

Earlier than I get into the main points, let’s first take a sensible take a look at how EVs really match into navy utilization.

Can EVs Even Be Used By Militaries?

Whereas it might appear foolish on the floor, electrical autos are positively going to warfare. It’s not solely one thing that’s coming, however it’s already happeing. Sure, everyone knows that there gained’t be working DC quick chargers each 50 miles in lots of warfare zones, however individuals who depend on that truth alone to poo poo the thought present us that they don’t know a lot about warfare or militaries.

Crucial factor to grasp is that many if not most navy autos aren’t combating autos like tanks. For instance, a very good variety of 2011 Chevy Volts are nonetheless placing round on U.S. navy bases, they usually’re there for folks to drive round doing administrative duties on pavement. Navy police drive the identical vehicles civilian law enforcement officials use. The navy additionally makes use of many regular semi-trucks, supply vans, and extra.

Even at warfare, most navy personnel aren’t fighters. 90% or extra of the hassle is help personnel who handle the wants of the folks doing the combating. Earlier than these help personnel go into an space, the front-line folks have already come by way of and cleared out a lot of the hazard if not all of it. So, folks “within the rear with the gear” have much more flexibility about how they energy their autos and what they depend upon.

One other factor to contemplate is that electrical autos are principally omnivorous. A diesel automobile can solely run on diesel. A gasoline automobile can solely run on gasoline and possibly ethanol mixes. A hydrogen gas cell automobile can solely be powered by hydrogen. However, an EV isn’t choosy about the place its electrical energy comes from. You should utilize photo voltaic, hydro, geothermal, methane, gasoline, diesel, hydrogen, nuclear, and absolutely anything else to cost an EV up.

As Common John J. Pershing mentioned, “Infantry wins battles, logistics wins wars.” On prime of the flexibility is the power to rely much less on traces of communication. In navy converse, a line of communication isn’t nearly sending info, but in addition meals, water, gas, and all the things else that’s wanted. Among the worst disasters in navy historical past have occurred when an enemy drive lower off these vital provide traces, leaving fighters with out badly-needed provides, together with gas.

For instance, the notorious Battle of the Bulge that my grandfather earned a Purple Coronary heart in was principally a giant combat over gas. When Brigadier Common Anthony McAuliffe refused to give up, famously telling the Nazi commander, “Nuts!”, the Nazis have been unable to steal allied gas and their closing determined offensive of the warfare floor to a halt.

However, what if future militaries carried alongside the power to make their very own gas for months or years at a time? Transportable photo voltaic farms (assume a Jackery setup like mine on steroids), small nuclear reactors, future fusion know-how, and lots of different issues might energy an electrical fleet of combating autos.

We’re already seeing this begin to play out with electrical bikes. It’s nonetheless not excellent, however there have been instances the place small teams of scouts, hit-and-run raiders (together with snipers), ahead observers, and anti-tank missile crews have silently slipped into an space and wreaked havoc on huge, diesel-fueled combating forces. Photo voltaic charging for e-bikes and bikes have enabled these forces to maneuver independently of any gas provides.

How The Hummer EV Suits Into All This

With all of this much-needed context in thoughts, it sounds loads much less foolish for an overpriced and heavy conspicuous consumption luxurious EV to be a critical providing for militaries.

In the corporate’s brochure for the automobile, it says, “Combining strong off-road capabilities with close to silent operations, the GMC HUMMER EV can be utilized throughout complicated terrain to help navy operations for navy police, VIP transportation, logistics help or inside coaching environments.” However, whereas GM Protection shouldn’t be actively advertising a inventory Hummer EV for front-line use, that doesn’t imply that this will not occur sooner or later.

Final yr, the U.S. navy purchased one for testing. Navy brass meant to check it to be used at house on navy bases, however the testers additionally had in thoughts to check it for subject use. Not solely did the Pentagon wish to cut back reliance on fossil fuels (for each environmental and strategic causes), however the concept was to additionally work on offering and transferring electrical energy round.

This yr, GM Protection took the Hummer EV to the following degree, making a one-off prototype that will make it a viable automobile even on the entrance traces. With a tube-frame, ruggedized panels, an upgraded suspension and tires, and even a 12 kW diesel vary extender and generator, the automobile good points loads of further utility that the inventory one doesn’t have.

From what I’ve learn, the U.S. navy and others haven’t pulled the set off on shopping for any fleets of Hummer EVs or modified variants, however it’s fairly clear that there’s nonetheless loads of potential there when a navy feels prefer it’s prepared for it.

Modularity Will Be Key To Making This Occur

When this occurs, it’s most likely going to have to be versatile. To begin with, fossil fuels gained’t be capable of fully go away. It’s going to need to be a course of.

GM Protection was heading in the right direction so as to add a diesel generator to the automobile, however the first ones will most likely must have a little bit extra pep than 12 kW. Having one thing that’s extra within the realm of Degree 3 charging as a substitute of Degree 2 would allow these autos to leap proper in and change many present diesel-only autos.

However, over time, as management will get extra comfy, having the ability to rapidly take away the generator would make for the pliability to maneuver ahead away from diesel. Turbines of various sizes might be swapped in, as might small hydrogen gas cells, or different issues.

Featured picture offered by GM.