Banks Diesel Hybrid Power Train: Next‑Gen HMMWV Revealed
After months of keeping the project classified, we can finally reveal our latest engineering achievement; a Banks P2 Parallel Diesel Hybrid-powered HMMWV. Built for the U.S. Army, the prototype is propelled by a state-of-the-art Banks D630TH V6 Diesel engine coupled to a motor generator unit (MGU), powered by an 800-volt battery.
Full Video Transcript
00:00 Hi guys, Gail Banks here. Back in 21, the US Army asked industry, is it possible to build a diesel hybrid Humvey? We submitted a white paper, got selected, and here it is. With this vehicle, the team at Banks has achieved something truly amazing. We’ve taken a platform that was put into
00:24 production over 40 years ago and turned it into a modern, fully capable hybrid vehicle. The Banks Humvee isn’t just a Humvee for the modern era. It’s futureproof. We designed our Humvee as a P2 parallel hybrid to maximize drivetrain flexibility and operational efficiency. In this configuration, a
00:46 motor generator unit or MGU is positioned between the internal combustion engine and the transmission, separated by an electronically controlled coupler. This allows the engine to be completely decoupled, enabling full electric drive for silent operation or synchronized with the MGU
01:04 for torque blending and increased performance. Power can flow mechanically, electrically or both depending on the mission profile. Behind this door is how we connect to the outside world electrically. Let me give you a little taste. All this power comes from the MGU and
01:27 ice together. Our engineers spent hundreds of hours testing this thing on the dyno, at the track, and on the drag strip, gathering data to make our hybrid Humvee more than just a theory. You can see the MGU. The engine is not illuminated because we’re going to be an
01:49 EV. We go into drive. All right. And drive away. We’re pure electric. We’re on the Irwin Dale half mile. You can hear the tires. [Music] We come to a complete stop. So there you have it. Ran an EV, ran in full hybrid. To run on pure ice, you need a failure of the EV system. It becomes a backup
02:35 system. This is dominantly an EV or a hybrid. Like and subscribe so you can see updates on the Humvee project because you sure as hell won’t hear them coming.
With more than 100,000 HMMWVs in service around the world, the Army wanted to know what a Diesel hybrid could look like. We engineered the powertrain, battery management, and vehicle control systems as a proof-of-concept. The Banks HMMWV is quicker, faster and more efficient than the four-decade-old vehicle, has far greater range, can run silently, and is capable of exporting enough power to support the Army’s mobile troop deployment needs. After completion, the HMMWV was sent to one of the Army’s state-of-the-art proving grounds for rigorous testing. It passed with flying colors.
The P2 parallel hybrid checks all the boxes. Propulsion comes from the Diesel engine, electric motor, or both. Unlike a pure EV, there’s no range anxiety. And, unlike a Diesel-only vehicle, it can run silently. The motor can assist the engine with torque-fill, solving one of the HMWWV’s biggest problems of the anemic 6.5L Diesel AM General engine. The battery can be charged while the engine is running, eliminating the need for remote charging stations. Applications for this power train are unlimited; cars, trucks, busses, airport tugs, marine, etc.
For those new to Banks’ history, we’ve supplied engines and power systems to the U.S. Armed Forces since the late 1970s, beginning with engines for the NAVY’s DEVGRU (Naval Special Warfare Development Group), known today as SEAL Team Six. Currently, Banks is the exclusive engine supplier to the ARMY’s JLTV (Joint Light Tactical Vehicle) program. All JLTVs are powered by Banks D866T turbo Diesel engines. To date, Banks has delivered more than 26,000 engines.