Military departments across the world have been trying to expand their arsenal, and also come up with a quieter vehicle that will allow them to sneak in on enemies. Now, it seems that the long wait is over: the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a Department of Defense agency, has come very close to fulfilling that goal.
DARPA is working together with Logos Technologies on the development of a preliminary design. Once the concept motorcycle is ready, its objective will be to make special operations teams stealthier in their missions. The hybrid-powered motorcycle will rely on gas and electric power, which will not only save fuel, but will also make it whisper-quiet on rugged terrain. And since the standard gas tank won’t be able to fit a lot of fuel, the bike will have a supplemental tank that will allow it to go on longer missions.
Logos Technologies’ manager of advanced concepts, Wade Pulliam, said that the motorcycle will be quiet and light and will have all-wheel-drive. Logos plans to use the existing electric bike RedShift MX for the base, and add its hybrid-electric system to it. At the moment, the RedShift MX can reach a top speed of 130 km/h and its charge lasts for two hours. However, a gas tank with a size determined by the military will extend that time. The aim of the new motorcycle is not so much to be super fast, considering the terrain, but to be quiet.