The electrification of vehicles, as we know, creates a rift among endothermic purists, who are mostly convinced that the interests at stake in the energy transition pursue very different objectives than the climate emergency.
What worries and annoys is the Italian deindustrialization, which today records a GDP at 2007 levels (Istat source), compared to other emerging global "electricity" markets (Asia) which are not subject to or do not observe the strict European decarbonisation regulations.
Furthermore, the emissions levels of the automotive Euro 6e (EA) must be considered - for registrations from September 2024 - where the RDE conformity factor drops compared to Euro 6d from 1,43 to 1,1 for nitrogen oxides and from 1,5 to 1,34 for particulate matter.
Return to the past of "BEVs"?
However, if today in the twenty-first century we are wondering how to give up a very perfect and reliable piston vehicle, it is curious to remember that the electric car (the BEV battery electric vehicles) dates back to 1884 by Thomas Edison, while the first mass production took place in 1907 by the Detroit company. Also "Elvira Coot", that is Grandma Duck, a famous character created in 1943 by Walt Disney, owned one.
Thanks to a contribution published by Alessandro Barbero, historian specialized in the Middle Ages and military history, we know that the Detroit Coupé Model c two-seater and the D model four-seaters were the first full electric intended for series production.
La D model it had 150 km of autonomy and reached a maximum speed of 40 km/h; they were almost carriages with an electric motor built by the company which changed its name to Detroit Electric Car Company, ceasing operations in 1939.
It seems that at the beginning of the 900th century there was no certainty as to what the "fuel" of the future could be and, alongside endothermic production, up to two thousand electric cars were built per year. Indeed, given the high costs of fuel, electric cars during the First World War achieved higher sales for the civilian market than petrol cars.
“Electric” armed forces in 2050?
In the military field, the issue of electrification takes on different values and needs (even from one state to another) even though today all endothermic production - the most widespread for obvious reasons - falls within the tolerated emissions standards. The use of alternative propulsion in the military sector promotes hybrid systems (diesel-electric) both for tactical opportunities: limiting noise and heat sources, avoiding cumbersome charging structures, and for using these systems as a test bed for use of the autonomous management of the vehicle.
As we will see later, there is still a space for i full electric military, but for now these are exceptions linked to light reconnaissance vehicles or simple cars.
The main obstacle to the production of electric heavy vehicles is the lack of batteries powerful enough to move them. Additionally, a 50MW charging facility is required to recharge a 17t tank. We learn that by 2050 military technology and scientific research (studies which will also have implications for mass civilian use) will be able to offer heavy tracked vehicles full electric (news.bloomberglaw).
They are already reality
All this happens in light of Defense Authorization Act 2022, the US Department of Defense's choice for the eLRV, an acronym for electric Light Reconnaissance Vehicle.
While waiting to understand how much the American army, head of the technological school of the NATO countries, can spend, the construction of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicles with hybrid power and an eISV - Infantry Squad Vehicle -, a fully electric vehicle for high mobility infantry built by General Motors Defense. It is a 400V nine-seater with high voltage lithium ion batteries.
The technique
What emerges about this system full electric ofInfantry Squad Vehicle proposed by GM Defense is that it is a transformation of the popular endothermic 4x4 SUV Colorado ZR2 (photo). In detail, after some research, we discover a similarity of 90% of the components present on the original SUV, but what is most striking is the transmission system after the transition to BEV.
The original automatic transmission Supermatic 4L70 4-speed gearbox and reduction gear AutoTrac at 2 speeds are similar to endothermic production.
The electric motor takes the place of the torque converter and, almost certainly, has a function to keep the oil pump active, when engaging the gear, which guarantees the pressure of the clutches of the epicyclic groups of the gears.
By releasing the brake pedal and accelerating, the operation is the same as an automatic endothermic vehicle while, by releasing the gas, the energy recovery (and slowing down) phase occurs.
The types of electric vehicles are essentially divided into three: mild hybrid, hybrids (hybrid) e full electric.
Systems mild (i.e. with light electrification) use a motor-alternator (Fiat 500 Hybrid system) or an electric motor at the gearbox input to help and increase the torque of the endothermic (lowering consumption) which is always in operation. A system that also includes the use of a manual gearbox.
Systems hybrids (Toyota Yaris, just to get an idea) have distinct engines: electric and endothermic. The type allows you to travel silently (and tactically) in electric mode, then switching to endothermic.
I full electric (Tesla) have one or more electric motors and do not need to have a speed change, the torque line being constantly optimal (characteristic of electric motors). It makes us wonder what a change of speed is needed for the "transformation" of GM Defense... A mechanism that absorbs energy. It must be said that the energy reserve is very high on the eISV; 400 Volt – the plans also include 800v – although the traditional voltage (48 Volt?) should be used for the motor. It should be considered that the use of a gearbox improves and makes the delivery of torque and performance constant and uniform in all conditions. In short, a super tactical extremely "athletic".
According to GM's plans and prototypes, there is a Lobster EV with batteries vice over 200 kWh capable of 1.000 horsepower and a range of 300 miles (480 km); equipped, for emergencies, with a 12 kW diesel generator on board.
Electric and autonomous driving
Electrification also has a close link with autonomous driving which focuses on AI integrated vision technologies for the remote control of tactical vehicles used in war.
A question arises spontaneously in the face of a futuristic conflict consisting of autonomous vehicles: Will the civilian population be the real target of intelligent machines?
The costs of a conversion to autonomous driving, much less of a single vehicle, are not clear, but the loss of a team of autonomous tacticians will certainly represent a major defeat for the governments at war. Will this alone be enough to establish the winner?
Meanwhile, to ensure the safety of soldiers, the American DARPA has tested a self-driving hybrid tank - Racer Heavy Platform – which follows the RACER programme, i.e Robotic Autonomy in Complex Environments with Resiliency of 2020, also extended to vehicles off-road (see following videos).
Photo: OpenAI/web/General Dynamics Land Systems/GM Defense/DARPA