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Reepicheep
| Posted on Friday, April 18, 2014 - 09:16 am: |
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http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2014/04/17/military-de veloping-stealth-motorcycle-to-let-forces-travel-f ast-and-silent/?intcmp=features
quote:DARPA – the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency – recently awarded a small business innovation research grant to develop a military-use, hybrid motorcycle that will operate nearly silently in electric mode. The partnership between two small innovative American companies, Logos Technologies and BRD, leverages the former’s expertise in hybrid power projects and the latter’s in creating state-of-the-art electric motorcycles.
quote:Soft soil and narrow, steep trails can be difficult to navigate, and that’s why DARPA is calling for two-wheel-drive vehicles, which will be able to travel substantial distances on challenging terrain more easily.
quote:And it will provide more than a way to travel; the hybrid will be a portable electric power source, thus reducing the need to lug heavy batteries into the field.
quote:DARPA wants the vehicle to be electric-only for short periods of time and to run on JP-8 or diesel when it isn’t.
quote:The features that the military would like – heavy fuel capability, two wheel drive and hybrid powertrains – have all been achieved independently, but this will be the first time all these capabilities are combined.
Compare that to this: http://www.gizmag.com/hero-motocorp-turbo-diesel-h ybrid-electric-2wd-motorcycle/30768/ And I still want one! |
Hughlysses
| Posted on Friday, April 18, 2014 - 09:45 am: |
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Ha! DARPA will probably pay some contractor $2B to take the Hero Leap scooter, paint it flat black, and give it some lethal sounding name.
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Mnscrounger
| Posted on Friday, April 18, 2014 - 12:56 pm: |
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That RNT is the leatherman of motorcycles. Your right Repicheep, I think I want one too! At an MSRP of 60-80,000 IRP that works out to under 1500 bucks. Even after shipping, EBR/Hero could make a fortune selling them as OHVs or even just as mobile 1500W generators. |
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