Hybrid-Electric Military Motorcycle

Logos Technologies Wins Second DARPA Award to Continue Development of Hybrid-Electric Military Motorcycle in partnership With Alta Motors
Award to support rapid development of an innovative, quiet all-wheel drive hybrid-electric prototype

FAIRFAX, Va., Jan. 6, 2015; Logos Technologies has received a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award from DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) to continue development of the SilentHawk military motorcycle in partnership with California's Alta Motors (formerly BRD).

When fully matured, SilentHawk would allow small, distributed military teams to move long distances quickly and stealthily across harsh enemy terrain, meeting DARPA's expectations for high performance, efficiency and military utility. The prototype would combine Alta's existing RedShift MX electric motocross bike with Logos Technologies' proven quiet, multi-fueled hybrid-electric power system, developed for a separate unmanned aerial vehicle program.

"Quiet, all-wheel drive capability at extended range in a lightweight, rugged, single-track vehicle would support the successful operations in extreme terrain conditions and contested environments," said Wade Pulliam, manager of advanced concepts for Logos Technologies. "This award enables us to continue to execute a fast-paced development effort that takes advantage of our team's prior work, superior technical approach, and extensive experience."

During Phase I, which began in February 2014, Logos and Alta conducted extensive performance testing on the RedShift MX in multiple terrains and riding conditions to help understand the requirements for an off-road military motorcycle. Using this data, Logos demonstrated the suitability of its hybrid-electric system to meeting actual off-road power requirements. The result of Phase I was a preliminary design, backed by significant testing and modeling, which Logos intends to turn into a prototype during Phase II. With most critical requirements of the system already demonstrated, the Logos-Alta team plans to proceed with an aggressive Phase II program plan, with the goal of developing and testing the first operational prototype in only 18 months.

"An innovative design approach, including a unique field-swappable power system concept, will allow unprecedented customizability of the bike while still meeting and exceeding the government's challenging requirements," added Pulliam. "We also believe that the system resulting from this second phase of the program would have applicability to other ground vehicle systems beyond motorcycles."

Hybrid-Electric Military Motorcycle Details

Logos Technologies, in partnership with San Francisco-based all-electric motorcycle maker BRD, is developing a hybrid-electric motorcycle to support evolving mission requirements for military special forces.

The DARPA program calls for a lightweight, rugged, single-track vehicle that can operate near-silently for extended periods while transporting small, distributed forces over hostile terrain.

The vehicle will combine Logos Technologies’ proven, multifuel hybrid-electric power system with a cutting-edge, off-road electric motorcycle platform developed by BRD. This initiative will be the first time that a two-wheel-drive, multifuel hybrid capability has been integrated into a full-size off-road motorcycle.

Operators will benefit from the near-silent capability and ease of operation of an all-electric vehicle, along with the adaptable power generation and extended range of a multifuel internal combustion engine. The bike will also offer the capability to provide supplemental power for electric devices in the field.