UK leads green revolution in defence and off-highway transport

As the UK seeks to deliver a ‘greener’ future following the government’s announcement in February to ban the sale of all new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035 –  the University of Exeter and Supacat are helping to pave the way  for a green revolution in defence and off-road transport. 

A hybrid electrical powered version of the All-Terrain Mobility Platform (the ATMP), one of the world’s most popular, versatile and battle-proven off road military vehicles, has been developed.

Already validated to successfully operate in a range of very harsh terrains,the vehicle’s  new technology could be exported to allied forces and translated into a range of challenging `off-highway`  uses, including emergency services, rail, marine, forestry and aerospace.

Engineering experts from the University of Exeter collaborated with British designer and developer of high mobility defence vehicles, Supacat, to pioneer a new, electric-drive version of the ATMP vehicle – which has been used by regular and special operations forces in combat zones across the world. 

Called the H-ATMP, the new vehicle replaces its traditional diesel engine with six electric motors, one attached to each wheel, and can be configured for full electric or hybrid versions. 

Crucially, for applying to other rugged off-highway transportation, the hybrid electric drive-train can be tailored and customised, depending on the mission, range, payload and operating environment that each vehicle will be used for.

Several commercial vehicle manufacturers have introduced electric drive trains into their SUVs and 4x4s, but electric and hybrid drive technology is very much a novelty in the military sector, and particularly when engineered into a high mobility vehicle. The H-ATMP can be parachute-dropped and amphibious, can deliver troops, carry up to 1600kg payload and haul artillery across extreme rough terrain.

Prof Chris Smith, University of Exeter, said: “The H-ATMP has to be able to cover the most intimidating and adverse terrain, while drawing artillery and carrying troops around the battlefield.  While it may seem that the technology is similar to electric SUV vehicles we see on the road, the reality is that is the H-ATMP will conquer rough terrain that would leave the best 4x4 stuck in the mud.”

The vehicle can also act as a power hub for field hospitals or communication systems, and because the electric vehicles emit little noise or heat, the vehicle is stealthy on the battlefield.

Now, the innovative, eco-friendly vehicle is being developed further so it can be ‘optionally manned’.  This vehicle will be able to drive itself over highly complex terrains while the driver can conduct other tasks or place themselves in a safer location for more dangerous operations, or it can be linked to a higher level mission planning tool to create an autonomous ‘system of systems’, which will help meet the many potential users’ aspirations for safety improvements, enhanced mobility or reduced manning in the future.

Earlier this year, Major General Jez Bennett, Director Capability British Army, gave a speech at the International Armoured Vehicles Conference & Exhibition that included plans to invest a further £100m in novel technologies, such as hybrid electric drives, next year.

The H-ATMP is due to be evaluated by a range of specialist users later this year.  Such has been the success of the project, Supacat are now well positioned to exploit their world-class expertise in the selection, integration and control of electric and hybrid drives for high mobility vehicles and intend to apply their expertise to other vehicles, such as their fleet of High Mobility transporters (HMT) in service with Special Forces around the world, including the `Jackal` and ‘Coyote’ in the British Army. It has already been applied in the control of a specialist on-road vehicle now entering production.    

The step change in technology integration and associated performance benefits is the result of a unique collaboration between the University of Exeter and Supacat, the defence business of Devon-based SC Group, funded by the Government’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme.

Professor Smith said: “The KTP provided us with an excellent challenge to innovate a new, cleaner electric powered vehicle, which has kick-started a fast-expanding stream of work with other companies in off-highway, rail, defence, and marine hybridisation and electrification research.  It’s catapulted us into a leading position in innovation for new clean power systems for all kinds of transport.”

Steve Austen, Engineering Director and Chief Engineer of SC Group, explained that, “the knowledge that has been gained and distributed throughout the project partners is invaluable, resulting in significant additional revenue in the life of the project and high confidence of sustained additional revenue for the company in this sector over the next few years.”

These two projects have meant two new jobs have been created with two very talented young engineers from the University, Matt Harvey and Yash Katare, joining SC Group.  They will work on developing the technology for Supacat’s defence market and to serve the wider marine, rail, energy or emergency services markets for SC Group sister business, SC Innovation.

The original 6X6 ATMP was used as a highly mobile all-terrain ‘workhorse’  since its introduction in the 1980s, in both civilian and military roles. It was a favoured vehicle of the British Army and special operations forces, and has been deployed to Bosnia, the Gulf Wars and Afghanistan, amongst other international deployments.

For the new all-electric version, the development team stripped out the old diesel power train, and designed a new drive system using electric motors also made in Devon by Ashwoods Electric Motors.

KTPs help businesses improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills within the UK knowledge base. They are funded by UKRI through Innovate UK with the support of co-funders, including the Scottish Funding Council, Welsh Government, Invest Northern Ireland, Defra and BEIS.

Innovate UK manages the KTP programme and facilitates its delivery through a range of partners including the Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN), Knowledge Bases and Businesses. Each partner plays a specific role in the support and delivery of the programme.

Click here for more information on KTPs at University of Exeter.