GM Defense Creates Electric Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) Concept
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GM Defense is getting closer and closer to producing the ISV – the Infantry Squad Vehicle – at its brand new facility in Concord, North Carolina. The ISV is powered by the 2.8L baby Duramax engine. But the GM subsidiary has created and is now testing a new ISV, one that runs solely on electricity. Officially referred to by GM Defense as the All Electric Concept Vehicle, the military-grade truck represents a new design study that combines an EV powertrain with the wartime capability of the “regular” ISV.
For those readers who may be unaware, the ISV is a military vehicle based heavily on the Chevy Colorado ZR2 pickup truck. Developed by GM Defense for rapid deployment of a nine-soldier infantry squad and their gear onto the battlefield, the ISV uses 90 percent commercial-off-the-shelf components, including MultiMatic Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve dampers. According to the architectural chief engineer at GM Defense, Mark Dickens, the ISV is essentially identical to the Chevy Colorado ZR2 from the waist down.
Like the standard ISV, the new GM Defense All Electric Concept Vehicle is also replete with familiar components and off-the-shelf parts, running on the same Chevy Colorado platform. However, rather than equipping the Colorado’s 2.8L I4 LWN turbodiesel Duramax engine for motivation, the All Electric Concept Vehicle runs the same 200-horsepower powertrain as the Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV via the E-Crate powertrain that debuted at the SEMA Show in 2019. The motor is mounted up front and drives the rear wheels, but the drivetrain can be switched to 4WD on the fly.
While the front end, front cage (seating area), and wheelbase are identical to those on the standard ISV, there are a few other noteworthy differences between the GM Defense All Electric Concept Vehicle and the standard ISV. For instance, the electric concept features a bed that makes it roughly five inches longer than the regular ISV. The bed’s floor is made of the same material as the GMC CarbonPro box offered on the GMC Sierra pickup truck. Under that floor resides the battery pack, while the electric motor is placed at the front under the “hood.”
Driving range can vary greatly, depending on how the vehicle is driven. As such, initial estimates put the concept’s anywhere between 70 and 150 miles on a single charge.
We just spent some time with the GM Defense All Electric Concept Vehicle and even drove it on an off-road course, so we’ll be sharing our experience shortly. In the meantime, subscribe to GM Authority for more GM Defense news, GM electric vehicle news, Chevrolet Colorado news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
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As a former 11B Infantryman I find this downright hilarious. God help the grunts and SF guys if this actually gets the green light. Please, GM explain to me what happens when a mounted element’s mission gets extended and their batteries run dry. Can you call for a resupply for some fully charged batteries? I guess nobody ever explained what a FRAGO mission is to GM. Whats the “runtime” on those batteries. Will Harris radios and FBCB2 have a 7 minute runtime like the old Tyco RC Typhoon? lol. People need stop putting EV vehicles on the pedestal. They are not our savior or a total replacement for ICE vehicles.
Have a ICE powered vehicle follow each of them into combat with extra batteries that can easily be changed while the electric is emoblized and under enemy fire. This will show our enemies that the US military respects the environment and cause them great personal shame and reduce their will to fight us.
Or maybe the government has requested BEV options and a prototype was developed as a starting point. The military can now perform testing and figure out the pros and cons of this and GM and the military can work toward solutions to any issues.
Are you that simple minded that you can’t imagine this as a starting point and not the final product that the government has ordered 5000 units of?
Exactly. And let’s not forget the potential that something like the SURUS has when used in conjunction with the EVs:
https://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/general-motors-concepts/2017-general-motors-surus-concept/
The SURUS can run a hydrogen stack generator, providing a way for the EVs to charge up.
Exactly what I was thinking Alex, plus the silent running tactical approach ability over any ICE powered vehicle.
Not to mention future GM vehicles with real durability pedigree!
Alex is on to something here. An ISV EV plus Surus would be an interesting combo, even in retail applications.
You’re missing two key facts:
1. Fuel supply is a huge logistical issue. Insurgents specifically target tanker trucks in order to cut off fuel sources, and then your whole base and operation becomes a sitting duck. This fact was known decades ago, DARPA built the first hybrid cars in the 90’s because of this. Fuel efficiency is very important.
2. The range is more than enough for most operations. Baghdad is 15 miles wide. It’s not LA. You’re going slow and not driving at 70+. You need even less range for base patrol. The vast majority of military operations aren’t some airdropped deep recon stealth mission.
There is a real need for this vehicle. It’s not one-size-fits all.
The ISV isn’t going to be doing base patrols. From my personal experience any mission can become a snafu real quick. I think that the logistics and impracticality of BEVs at this time is just not really something I’d want to deal with on any given mission.
Sam, your inexperience is apparent and laughable.
Ty for your service SpaceBalls. In Afghanistan after conducting slow route clearance mission that would take hours, sometimes days, we would absolutely rip (not slow) down the hardball roads to get to the fob, food, and racks. Then sometimes you’d have to turn around for a recovery mission less then an hour later. I’m all for the US armed forces having the best and newest resources, I just don’t think BEVs or hydrogen serve that need right now, or in the foreseeable future.
Also insurgents never targeted our tankers because iirc our fuel generally came from local contractors. The insurgents target command vehicles and medical vehicles.
Either way, this is a concept. You will never innovate if you don’t try. Let GM do thing instead of constantly $hitting on them.
Making something that nobody asked for, needs, or wants seems like a bit of a waste of time and money to me. Typical lowercase gm forcing their agenda.
“nobody asked for, needs, or wants seems”
The Department of Defense is gathering ideas and concepts for electric vehicles as we speak, and has been for the greater part of the last year… hence the ISV electric concept seen here.
As has always been the case with you, you’re trying very hard to bend reality to support your agenda and world view, while ignoring blatant facts. Good thing there are people to set you straight.
Here’s the thing though Alex, I don’t have an agenda, it’s current gm leadership that clearly does. They day the BEVs become practical and undeniably better for the environment I’ll fully back them, at this time they just aren’t even close to as promised.
See, you say that, but you seem to have completely forgotten the fact that the vehicle we’re talking about here is A CONCEPT. It’s not a production vehicle… it’s not a vehicle currently available for sale. It is simply a proof of concept.
There is nothing promised, worse, or better… it’s simply an exploration into what could be. The fact that you are ignoring that confirms even further your anti-GM bias and anti-GM agenda.
PS: how’s that Kia Seltos working out for ya? Have you bought yours yet? If not, you better hurry up and do it, because the Trailblazer is kicking its a$$:
https://gmauthority.com/blog/2021/04/chevrolet-trailblazer-sales-numbers-figures-results-first-quarter-2021-q1/
The market has spoken, proving your feeble anti-Traiilblazer arguments wrong.