Oshkosh Defense unveils eJLTV hybrid-electric Joint Light Tactical Vehicle JLTV

According to information released on January 25, 2022, American company Oshkosh Defense unveiled the first-ever silent drive hybrid-electric Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), the eJLTV.

The eJLTV offers the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps the same level of performance and protection as the base JLTV with the addition of silent drive, extended silent watch, enhanced fuel economy, and increased exportable power that enables it to be used in combat and reconnaissance scenarios.

The eJLTV charges the battery while in use, fully recharging the lithium-ion battery within 30 minutes. This eliminates the need for a charging infrastructure, which remains one of the most significant challenges to the widespread electrification of the tactical wheeled vehicle fleet.

“For many years, we’ve been developing, testing and evolving hybrid-electric variants of our heavy and medium-duty tactical wheeled vehicles,” said John Bryant, Executive Vice President for Oshkosh Corporation and President of Oshkosh Defense. “Now, with the eJLTV, we’re offering our military customers an affordable way to electrify their light tactical wheeled vehicle fleet without compromising the off-road performance or superior protection necessary in combat operations.”

This year, the U.S. Army plans to recompete the JLTV program and issue a follow-on production contract in September 2022. The follow-on contract, valued at $6.5 Billion, includes an additional 15,468 vehicles and five order years followed by five options years, extending production through FY32.

“While the U.S. Army has not requested a hybrid-electric JLTV as part of the JLTV recompete, the eJLTV proves that Oshkosh Defense has the team and technical capabilities to produce this highly capable vehicle today,” Bryant concluded.

The goal of Oshkosh Defense with the eJLTV is to maintain the performance and protection of the proven Oshkosh Defense JLTV, improves fuel economy by more than 20%, provides battery capacity of 30kWh with opportunity for growth and eliminates the need for a towed generator by providing export power capacity of up to 115kW.

The JLTV (Joint Light Tactical Vehicle) is a 4×4 armored vehicle that was developed by Oshkosh Defence for the US Army and Marine Corps. In September 2011, the American Company Oshkosh unveils the next generation of a light combat vehicle, the L-ATV Light combat tactical All-Terrain Vehicle. On 25 August 2015, the L-ATV was selected as the winner of the JLTV program. The JLTV program was launched to replace Humvee light 4×4 tactical vehicle in service with the United States Army and U.S. Marine Corps.