The Shadow Hybrid Electric Vehicle

November 16, 2004 The US Marine Corps' first 4x4 hybrid-electric tactical vehicle - the Shadow RST-V - has been tested by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and may soon challenge the Humvee as the dominant vehicle for military use. The Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Targeting Vehicle (RST-V) is a high mobility, electric drive technology demonstrator that incorporates a lightweight diesel engine coupled to a permanent-magnetic generator which drives four in-hub permanent-magnet electric wheel motors. The Shadow is ideally suited as a reconnaissance vehicle, as its lithium-ion battery pack enables silent movement for upwards of 20 miles with extremely low thermal and acoustic signatures.