GM Defense's New Tactical Vehicle Is A Diesel Extended-Range EV

This vehicle can drive quietly into high-risk areas thanks to its electric motors. If it needs more range, the Duramax engine kicks in. What do you all think about this feature?

This looks like something out of 80s Robocop. What are your thoughts on its design?

So it’s a hybrid? Can someone clarify this for me?

Eliot said:
So it’s a hybrid? Can someone clarify this for me?

The difference between a hybrid and a range-extended EV is that the latter only uses the engine to create electricity for the battery, not to directly drive the wheels like a hybrid.

Farley said:

Eliot said:
So it’s a hybrid? Can someone clarify this for me?

The difference between a hybrid and a range-extended EV is that the latter only uses the engine to create electricity for the battery, not to directly drive the wheels like a hybrid.

“Extended range EV” is just another way of saying it has a series-hybrid drivetrain.

Farley said:

Eliot said:
So it’s a hybrid? Can someone clarify this for me?

The difference between a hybrid and a range-extended EV is that the latter only uses the engine to create electricity for the battery, not to directly drive the wheels like a hybrid.

The idea that a vehicle becomes less of an EV just because the engine sometimes drives the wheels is flawed. The Volt can run on battery alone for 50 miles. After that, it can use the engine only as a generator or couple it to the wheels for added propulsion, depending on efficiency. This flexibility actually supports the goal of reducing fossil fuel use. If the battery runs low, the parallel-hybrid option helps the Volt use less gas compared to a series hybrid. The same applies to plug-in hybrids like Prius Prime, which always have their engines connected to the wheels. The important part is their ability to run on electricity for many miles.

Eliot said:
So it’s a hybrid? Can someone clarify this for me?

Sure, any vehicle with at least two energy sources can be called a hybrid. Even an electric bike fits this definition. Calling something a hybrid doesn’t provide much useful information since it’s such a wide category.

Eliot said:
So it’s a hybrid? Can someone clarify this for me?

Not sure why you got downvoted when the title clearly mentions “Duramax.” This is definitely a new offering from GM.

Cool tech yo. But the basic diesel Colorado already costs taxpayers $300,000 each. How much is this new vehicle going to cost? Is GM going to sell the government a million-dollar pickup alongside the $300,000 Colorados and $350,000 Suburbans?

It’s definitely an EV… except for the diesel part. What do you all think about this?

Morgan said:
It’s definitely an EV… except for the diesel part. What do you all think about this?

What? Can’t a Chevy Volt owner be a part of this fine group? This vehicle seems like a version of Voltec with a unique twist.

Morgan said:
It’s definitely an EV… except for the diesel part. What do you all think about this?

It’s an EV that brings along its own diesel-electric generator. What are your thoughts on this design?

This is really interesting. It feels like this is what the cyber truck looks like in Elon’s mind. Does anyone else get that vibe?

Bennet said:
This vehicle can drive quietly into high-risk areas thanks to its electric motors. If it needs more range, the Duramax engine kicks in. What do you all think about this feature?

There’s definitely a market for this type of drivetrain in the USA. I hope GM and Ram can get their PHEV/EREVs out soon. What do others think about the timing?

Bennet said:
This vehicle can drive quietly into high-risk areas thanks to its electric motors. If it needs more range, the Duramax engine kicks in. What do you all think about this feature?

We really need to stop posting hybrids here. It’s confusing for people.

Brenner said:

Bennet said:
This vehicle can drive quietly into high-risk areas thanks to its electric motors. If it needs more range, the Duramax engine kicks in. What do you all think about this feature?

We really need to stop posting hybrids here. It’s confusing for people.

It’s a PHEV. It can run on grid electricity. So it’s okay to discuss it here. The forum rules say this is for PHEV and BEV discussions. PHEVs can run on minimal gas, and the emissions per mile of a Volt driven in New York is way lower than a Lightning or even a Model Y driven in West Virginia. What do you think about this comparison?