US Department of Defense embracing electric military vehicles using GM’s Ultium Platform
Tactical military vehicles are about to get an electric upgrade. GM Defense, a business unit of General Motors focusing on advanced defense mobility needs, was selected by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to develop a battery pack that can be used for functional electric military vehicles.
The need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and transition to clean energy alternatives is becoming more evident as unpredictable weather events, including extreme heat, droughts, floods, hurricanes, etc., continue to intensify across the globe.
When these events happen, it directly affects the Department of Defense, which includes the US Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force. The government agency is tasked with providing national security, including from the results of climate change.
Former US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel called climate change a “threat multiplayer” as it can “exacerbate” other issues, such as infectious diseases that can impact operations.
The Department of Defense looked at how climate change has impacted its department so far, giving several examples of why something needs to be done. For example:
- Hurricane Michael, a category five hurricane, destroyed at least half of the buildings at Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City, Florida.
- Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, the world’s largest naval base, is threatened by rising ocean levels. Since the 1920s, water in the bay has increased by around a foot and a half, and during high tide, the water almost breaches containment walls.
- The Missouri River flood in 2019 swallowed up about a third of the US Strategic Command base at the Offutt Air Force in Nebraska, costing over $500 million.
These are just a few recent examples of how climate change has impacted the DOD. As a result, the Agency devised an action plan, including a climate strategy for each of its divisions, the US Army, Navy, and Air Force.
One of the primary focuses of the campaign is introducing functional military electric vehicles. The Defense Innovation Unit, a division of the DOD aimed at accelerating advanced technology use throughout the military, announced Thursday it had chosen GM’s Ultium Platform to test and analyze for tactical electric vehicles.
DOD testing GMs Ultium Platform for electric military vehicles
The DOD released a Climate Adaptation Progress Report, labeling climate change as a “national security issue.” The Agency says its military departments are “taking bold steps to accelerate climate adaption,” including using military electric vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In July, the US Army selected GM defense to demonstrate an electric vehicle for the military, so it provided the GMC Hummer EV pickup.
The Agency is now moving forward with its strategy, awarding GM Defense to build a heavy-duty battery pack to power electric military vehicles in its fight against climate change. GM Defense president, Steve DuMont, states:
Commercial battery electric technologies continue to mature. GM Defense offers a unique advantage with our ability to leverage proven commercial capabilities and the billions in GM investments in electric vehicle and autonomous vehicle technologies in order to help provide our customers with the most advanced capabilities the commercial market can offer.
GM says it will use its advanced Ultium Platform – its electric vehicle architecture – to meet the standards.
GM believes the Ultium Platform can “deliver power, range, and scale beyond and previous GM hybrid or extended range EV.” The EV platform is scalable, with battery options ranging from 50 kWh to over 200 kWh and space for up to 24 modules.
The automaker’s scalable EV platform allows modules to lay flat (for performance vehicles) or vertical for heavy-duty EVs, making it a good choice for US electric military vehicles.
Electrek’s Take
Electric vehicles taking over the battlefield is only a matter of time. As battery technology like GM’s Ultium Platform advances, it enables longer travel distances, more power, and better performance.
Most importantly, electric vehicles are quieter, more powerful, can accelerate faster, and are technologically superior, making them the perfect choice for the military.
The US Army and Navy are aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050, while the Air Force is committing to 2046. Electric vehicles will likely play a critical role in the military as they look to achieve these objectives.
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Environment
Zoox has officially begun offering (free) robotaxi rides to the general public around LasVegas
Bespoke robotaxi developer Zoox officially launched driverless rides around the Las Vegas Strip today. The milestone follows months of testing in the area, and the initial rides are free for the general public.
In the eleven years since its incorporation, Zoox, Inc. has taken a unique and exciting approach to rideshare transportation. Instead of building a robotaxi fleet using existing vehicles retrofitted with autonomous driving technology, Zoox introduced its own novel electric vehicle early.
While most of the company’s initial test fleet consisted of existing vehicles equipped with sensors and cameras, we have closely followed the development, testing, and implementation of Zoox’s purpose-built robotaxis, which is designed without pedals or a steering wheel.
In the past, those unique Zoox EVs could be seen testing around the San Francisco Bay Area and the Las Vegas Strip, where the robotaxi network has been testing for over two years now. That initial route in Sin City consisted of a one-mile loop near Zoox’s Las Vegas headquarters, offering the ability to transport up to four passengers at speeds up to 35 mph.
At the time, initial test rides were conducted by Zoox employees before “expanding over the coming months.” By March 2024, Zoox had upped the robotaxi’s top speed to 45 mph in Las Vegas and expanded operational hours to include nighttime driving and service under light rain and damp road conditions.
Following these expansions, Zoox said it was closer than ever to commercial operations and paid customer rides. Today, the robotaxi provider has reached that milestone in Vegas, offering the general public free rides in its purpose-built vehicles (an industry first).
Anyone can now order a Zoox robotaxi in Las Vegas
According to a blog post from Zoox this morning, it is celebrating becoming the first company in history to provide fully autonomous ride-hailing services to the public using a purpose-built robotaxi. Las Vegas is the perfect backdrop for Zoox’s unique ride-hailing experience, as its robotaxis could help transport some of the city’s 40 million annual visitors. Per Zoox CEO Aicha Evans:
The autonomous vehicle industry has made remarkable strides this year, bringing us closer to a future of safer, more accessible mobility. With the launch of our fully driverless ride-hailing service using a purposefully designed robotaxi, we’re thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking journey. Las Vegas is a city famous for unforgettable moments, and it is the ideal location for our debut. Zoox is about transforming the entire ride-hailing experience, making every ride a delightful experience
Starting today, September 10, you can download the Zoox app to your iOS or Android device and hail one of the company’s truly driverless robotaxi operating in Las Vegas. To begin, all rides are free, so early passengers can “become familiar with Zoox, our service, and share their feedback” before the company scales to paid rides, which still requires regulatory approval.
Looking ahead, Zoox said customers can also join the waitlist for robotaxi rides in San Francisco. The company hasn’t announced a launch date for the Bay Area yet, but said more details are coming soon. Here’s a little peek at the Zoox robotaxi in action around Las Vegas:
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Toyota is gearing up to launch two new electric SUVs based on the RAV4 and Land Cruiser. The RAV4 and Land Cruiser EVs are set to replace a luxury Lexus model as Toyota shifts production plans.
When will Toyota launch the RAV4 and Land Cruiser EVs?
We knew Toyota was up to something. Reports have been surfacing for months about its plans to build new electric SUVs in Kentucky.
Toyota confirmed earlier this year that it “plans to produce two all-new, three-row battery electric SUVs in the US.”
Although it initially planned to build them at its manufacturing plant in Princeton, Indiana, the automaker announced last month that both will now be assembled at Toyota Kentucky.
According to a new Nikkei report, the two new EVs will be based on the Toyota RAV4 and Land Cruiser. A person close to the matter claimed that the new electric SUVs will replace the Lexus ES sedan, which is currently built in Kentucky.
The next-gen Lexus ES will be made in Japan and exported to the US, the source said, adding that the shift is not related to the new US auto tariffs.
However, like past reports, Nikkei claimed the move was part of Toyota’s broader plans to consolidate production. Lexus brand vehicles will reportedly be moved to a single location, while Toyota ramps up production of the larger Grand Highlander in Kentucky.
Toyota responded to the report, saying it has not publicly announced the changes, but added that the company is reviewing production plans “to make ever-better cars.”
The RAV4 and Land Cruiser EVs are expected to be among seven new electric models Toyota launches in the US by mid-2027.
Following the updated bZ electric SUV, which will hit US dealerships soon, Toyota will introduce the C-HR and bZ Woodland crossover SUVs in 2026.
Toyota Motor North America vice president, David Christ, boasted that the company is “loading the bases” with new battery electric, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid vehicles on deck.
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Boost, a UK-based company better known for its electric bike conversion kits, has released a new electric bike that is designed to be as compact as possible, despite not being a folding e-bike. Or at least, not a folding frame e-bike.
That’s because while the Boost Bike doesn’t fold in half like many compact e-bikes, it still manages to shrink down significantly thanks to a nifty set of handlebars that can be turned sideways or even removed entirely. Those compacting tricks help it fit easily in car trunks, hallways, or small apartment nooks – making it a great urban companion for riders tight on space.
The swiveling bars take a page out of JackRabbit’s playbook, though on Boost’s version, they appear to only allow the bike to narrow itself down to a 10″ (25 cm) wide. The JackRabbit’s 90-degree swiveling handlebars famously allow a svelter 7″ (17.8 cm) figure.
The frame itself is a rugged mini-bike design built from aircraft-grade 6061-T6 aluminum, and it’s paired with 20” x 1.75” tires that give it an even tinier look than it probably deserves. Hydraulic disc brakes and an 8-speed Shimano derailleur show that just because the bike is small, it’s not featureless. Though it’s also not a powerhouse, either.
Power comes from a 250W rear hub motor that keeps the bike street legal in the UK and EU, but it offers only a modest amount of torque at 42 Nm. Boost claims a top speed of 25 km/h (15.5 mph), as per e-bike regulations, and the company says its 7Ah battery is rated for up to 35 miles (56 km) under the most ideal of conditions.
There’s an option for a wireless display (to be added for an extra fee), or riders can use a smartphone app to control the bike.
BikeRadar puts the price at £1,250 (approximately US $1,700), though it says there is a non-electric version available for just under half that price. With that kind of sticker shock, the Boost Bike isn’t the cheapest mini e-bike on the market, but it may be one of the most minimalist-looking. If you’re ready to fork over the cash for one now, well then, you’ll have to… wait. It’s not yet for sale, though the company says it is coming soon.
Electrek’s Take
Hey, I’m all for lighter-weight e-bikes. At a time when the best-selling models are pushing 70 lb (32 kg), it’s a welcome relief to see lighter options. I wish I could tell you how light this one is, but the company doesn’t volunteer that interesting little nugget. I’d also love to tell you the battery capacity, but without hearing the voltage, that amp-hour figure is useless. I’ll assume 36V though, which would give us 250Wh of capacity.
The price here is the killer, as there’s nothing special about the bike other than its handlebars. The ‘e’ in the e-bike appears to be a fairly simple, standard conversion kit pre-installed on what is a neat little frame, but not quite worth US $1,700 in my book. But hey, if you want something nice and flat, there just aren’t many options out there, and this gets you there.
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