GM Defense unveils electric Infantry Squad Vehicle for U.S. Army
Personnel carrier updated to electric drive
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General Motors is aiming to become an all-electric brand, and that could include military vehicles one day.
The automaker's GM Defense unit has unveiled a prototype for an electric version of the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) it is building for the U.S. Army.
The high-performance truck is based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 and normally powered by a 2.8-liter turbodiesel, but the four-cylinder engine has been replaced with the eCrate electric drivetrain conversion kit GM will soon be offering as an aftermarket product for custom car builders.
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The eCrate includes the 200 hp/266 lb-ft motor from the Chevrolet Bolt EV, a 60-kilowatt-hour battery pack, power control unit, wiring harness and a liquid cooling system for the batteries.
According to GM Authority, the rearmost seats of the ISV have been replaced with a pickup bed made from the same carbon fiber material as the GMC Sierra's CarbonPro bed, under which the battery has been installed.
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Testing on the prototype has only recently started, but the vehicle has an estimated range of 70-150 miles per charge.
GM Defense is contracted to build at least 649 of the conventional ISVs, which will be manufactured at its facility in Concord, N.C.