GM Defense, a military division of General Motors, has proceeded to the field tests of its first all-electric army vehicle, a light personnel carrier built on the ISV chassis.
The so-called All Electric Concept Vehicle draws its power from the Chevrolet Bolt’s eCrate powertrain situated under the hood. The rear wheels get up to 204 PS (201 hp / 150 kW) and 360 Nm (266 lb-ft) of torque, but AWD is also available on demand. A 60-kWh battery grants it between 110 and 240 kilometers (68 – 149 miles) of range depending on many factors.
Compared to the diesel-powered ISV shown in the attached video, the electric one has an additional truck bed that makes it 13 cm (5 inches) longer. The biggest tradeoff is the cabin, which now accommodates five people instead of nine.
GM Defense does not specify what the point of such an army vehicle may be, but this is not the first time the company entertains the idea.
‘ISV’ stands for Infantry Squad Vehicle. The car is 90% unitized with the civilian Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, but benefits from a softer suspension with much larger travel. Its 2.8-liter diesel engine normally produces 190 PS (187 hp / 140 kW) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque. The production volume was initially estimated at 649 units with possible expansion to 2,065 units.